There was a rampant rumor in November that Robert Plant had turned down an $800 million contract that would've led to Led Zeppelin's reformation and a reunion tour. The only problem? It wasn't true. Plant's publicist called it "rubbish," and Richard Branson, who was said to have been financing the effort, also called the report "completely untrue." Here are a few more celebrity hoaxes. 
For some reason, in early November, word spread on the Internet that "Home Alone's" Macaulay Culkin had died. The actor and the musician took the gossip in stride, debunking the rumors with proof of his existence before poking fun at them with some "Weekend at Bernie's"-style photos. 
On September 3, many on the Web were swindled into believing that actress Betty White had passed away. Thanks to a headline from the satirical outlet Empire News that read "Actress Betty White, 92, Dyes Peacefully In Her Los Angeles Home," some assumed that the star had "died." Thankfully, White is alive and well. 
Musician Scott Weiland was surprised to learn via media reports that he was in jail. It turned out to be an imposter. 
No need to start mourning. A recent report that "Orange is the New Black" was canceled is not true, E! assured the world. The buzz apparently started after a humor site posted that Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said: "A woman's place is in the home, in the kitchen, taking care of children. A woman in jail? How does anyone watch this show in the first place?" 
Kanye West clearly thinks very highly of himself. It was reported that he said he was "the next Nelson Mandela," but it just wasn't true. 
Paris Hilton was offended when the world believed she had tweeted mixing up Mandela and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. after Mandela's death. She tweeted: "Whoever made that stupid fake tweet lacks respect to the loss the world is mourning right now. Same goes for all the blogs who ran with it." 
For those who believe Andy Kaufman faked his death in 1984, the latest reports could have been seen as a glimmer of hope. But it now appears to be just an homage to the eccentric comedian. 
Seems like every day social media kills another celebrity. Recording artist Raz-B was said to be in a coma after being hit by a bottle in China. His rep denies that his camp started the rumor. 
Remember when the White Stripes, Meg White and Jack White, were claiming to be siblings? Turns out they were actually married. The two divorced in 1999, and the band broke up for good in 2011. 
Singer Lauryn Hill may be strong in some of her opinions (she reportedly prefers to be called "Ms. Hill") but there appears to be no truth to the story that she told MTV she would rather her children starve than have white people buy her music. 
Marilyn Manson is way out there, but he did not have a rib removed so that he could more easily ... pleasure himself. 
Singer Billy Idol may sorta have the hairline for it, but he did not portray Eddie Munster on the television series "The Munsters." That was actor Butch Patrick. 
That Richard Gere gerbil story just refuses to die. And that's all we are going to say about that one. 
Call it a hoax or an urban legend, but the kid who played "Mikey" in the Life cereal commercial back in 1971 did not die from consuming Pop Rocks candy and soda. A now-adult John Gilchrist told Newsday in 2012 that he still enjoys the cereal. 
Author James Frey found success when he appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" to talk about his book "A Million Little Pieces." He also found scrutiny and shame when it was revealed that his memoir about struggling with addiction wasn't entirely true. 
Before 2006, novelist J.T. LeRoy was thought to be a young male truck-stop prostitute who chronicled his treacherous tales in critically acclaimed novels. But the persona was later revealed to be the invention of writer Laura Albert. In person, LeRoy was played by Savannah Knoop, who made appearances disguised as a man. Here LeRoy attends the 2005 premiere of "his" movie, "The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things," in Rome. 
Fred Rogers, aka Mr. Rogers from the kids show "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," was neither a Marine sniper nor a Navy SEAL with confirmed kills in Vietnam. We aren't even sure how this one got started. 
Lady Gaga does sport some flamboyant outfits, but we assure you that she is a woman and not a man dressed as a woman, as some have claimed. Nor was she born a man and had a sex change. 
Jamie Lee Curtis is not a hermaphrodite. We repeat: She is not a hermaphrodite! 
This one caused such an issue that Oprah Winfrey felt compelled to invite Tommy Hilfiger on her show to prove she never kicked him off it. Every few years the story pops up that the designer was asked to leave Winfrey's show after he said he didn't want African-Americans and Asians wearing his clothes. So not true. 
Sorry porn aficionados: A young Barbra Streisand, seen here in 1966, did not appear in a stag film. As The Village Voice pointed out in 2003, it was just an adult film actress with a pronounced nose. 
Star Jones let the world believe she relied on diet and exercise when she started shedding weight in 2003. She finally came clean in 2008, revealing she had gastric bypass surgery to lose more than 160 pounds. OK, this one might be more of a fib than a hoax, but plenty of people took the deception very personally -- including her former "The View" boss Barbara Walters.
- Richard Branson says reports of his financing a Led Zeppelin reunion are false
- The Virgin chairman was said to have offered an $800 million contract for a reunion
- Branson says that making up the story is disrespectful to the band members' careers
(CNN) -- Robert Plant has called reports of a Led Zeppelin tour "rubbish," and now Richard Branson is doing the same.
On his blog Wednesday, the Virgin Group founder said he's "dazed and confused" by rumors that he offered an $800 million (£500 million) contract to see Led Zeppelin re-form for a reunion tour.
"As much as I love the band, there is absolutely no truth to the story," Branson said.
And despite what you may have heard, Virgin Atlantic isn't going to rename a plane "and include a stairway to heaven" in Led Zeppelin's honor, Branson added. "However nice an idea, this is also completely untrue."
The report that Branson was involved in a Led Zeppelin reunion appeared in The Daily Mirror this week and claimed that Branson was eager to cart the band around in one of his jets as part of a tour that would hit London, Berlin and New Jersey.
It was said that Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones were all in for the deal along with Jason Bonham, the son of the band's late drummer, John Bonham.
The holdout, the Daily Mirror reported, was lead singer Robert Plant.
"Jimmy, John and Jason signed up immediately," a source told the paper. "It was a no-brainer for them but Robert asked for 48 hours to think about it. When he said no and ripped up the paperwork he had been given, there was an enormous sense of shock. There is no way they can go ahead without him."
"Rubbish," was Plant's publicist's response to the story, which appears to have been removed from The Daily Mirror's website. Branson is taking it a step further.
Not only is it untrue, he says in his blog post, but it diminishes the band members' current careers.
"Making up this story is very disrespectful to how wonderful (Robert Plant's) solo career with the Sensational Space Shifters is going," Branson said. "He is setting out on a sold out tour today and they released a brilliant album last year. ... Robert told me he is very proud of his history and the band's past, and has always had great respect and love for his work throughout his career. However, he really believes he must move on with his life and career today."
Legends like Led Zeppelin are once-in-a-lifetime creators, but that doesn't mean they should be restricted to simply rehashing their old stuff; Page and Jones also have their own projects in the works, Branson pointed out.
"I'm proud of how so many artists from my generation, whether it is Led Zeppelin, Mike Oldfield or Peter Gabriel, are still being so creative and inventive," Branson said. "As Robert told me: 'Look Richard, I just do things because I love them and I want to do more new things that I love.' I couldn't agree more."
CNN's Todd Leopold contributed to this report.
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