Jon Bon Jovi Dead and 8 Other Celebrity Death Hoaxes in 2011 [PHOTOS]

Despite rumors circulating on the Internet saying Jon Bon Jovi is dead, the singer is alive and well.

A press release from the Web site dailynewbloginternational circulated on Monday proclaiming Bon Jovi died from a heart attack and was rushed to Jersey Shore Medical Center while hundreds gathered outside to hear word on his condition.

As the post was going viral, Bon Jovi's publicist told CNN that he is alive, well and doing another charity event tonight.

Bon Jovi even cleared up rumors by posting a photo of himself on Facebook with the following caption:

Heaven looks a lot like New Jersey -jbj. Rest assured that Jon is alive and well! This photo was just taken.

For the past few years, as social media Web sites like Twitter and Facebook have become one of the primary means for obtaining news, celebrity death hoaxes virally spread faster to people at a speed an A-list celebrity publicist cannot even control.

However, some say celebrity death hoaxes is a fad done by bored Internet users to break up the monotony of a day or by crafty publicists looking for free publicity for stars who are otherwise stagnant in their careers.

That's not to say Jon Bon Jovi's career is stagnant, as his band will headline at the Bamboozle festival in Asbury Park in May.

Here are eight other celebrity death hoaxes that have circulated in 2011.

Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan was the victim of multiple death rumors in 2011, one in August after a Facebook group was created entitled R.I.P. Jackie Chan (8/17/11) featuring a photo of Chan in a tuxedo said he had died and a rumor in April to which Chan quelled rumors himself. Jackie is alive and well, Chan posted on his Facebook account. He did not suffer a heart attack and die, as was reported on many social networking sites and in online news reports.

Hugh Hefner

In July, rumors spread that Hugh Hefner had died of a heart attack. Shortly after, Hefner posted a correction on Facebook. The rumors of my death are, as Mark Twain observed in a similar situation, greatly exaggerated. I'm very much alive and kicking. Hefner wrote on Twitter.

Charlie Sheen

Around the same time the Internet declared Hefner dead, rumors swirled about Charlie Sheen to which he responded, Warlock: long nap...very much alive.

Justin Bieber

Pronounced dead twice in one day, a viral tweet spread around that Justin Bieber was shot by a publicist in January and then killed in a car accident back in June. He tweeted, Wait ... turns out I'm alive.

Wesley Snipes

Again, Twitter users are the culprit for the latest scandal in fake Hollywood deaths, Wesley Snipes, who is said earlier this week to have been killed in a fight. The actor is alive in prison after being charged for defrauding the U.S. in 2006.

Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy was reported dead in a freak snowboarding accident on Dec. 6, 2011.

Tony Danza

In September, Tony Danza was rumored to have fallen off a cliff in New Zealand, or was in a fatal car crash in the United States. The rumor was ignited by an article Tony Danza Dies In Car Crash on a fake website Global Associated News.

Mick Jagger

In February, Mick Jagger was the victim of a celebrity death hoax when a RIP Mick Jagger appeared on the Trending Topics list on Twitter.