Shawn Johnson: Not Actually Dead, Still Very Much Alive

This morning “Shawn Johnson dead” shot up to No. 33 on Google Trends. (I suppose it could have been higher, but this is the highest I saw it at; it’s now down in the 80s.) But, you see, Shawn Johnson did not actually die. She is still alive.

So where did the apparent confusion come from? This video from the Onion News Network that was posted yesterday. You know, the Onion. That satirical newspaper. It’s not real. It’s fake.

For the record, Shawn’s friends don’t seem too amused by all this, while (via FanHouse) her and her parents aren’t talking about it for now. I don’t blame them; there’s certainly an argument to be made that this was in poor taste, and perhaps if they don’t address it, it will just die quicker. That doesn’t mean I didn’t laugh, though.

Posted at 10:52 am
on June 17th, 2009
Tags: Gymnastics, Shawn Johnson, Video

Viewing 38 Comments

tamara 7 months ago 1 point
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y would her parents do sumthing likr this if its all fake thats sad

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Your mama 7 months ago 1 point
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I'd sue my parents if they did something like that to me..

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snissen 7 months ago 1 point
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"and perhaps if they don’t address it, it will just die quicker."
Pun intended?

Also, tamara and Your Mama = commentfail.

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Finish your sentence 7 months ago 1 point
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The reason so many people probably thought to investigate via google is because you don't see in the youtube video title WHAT she broke, just '...' This leaves one to assume she broke her neck, because this happens in Gymnastics sometimes and it is very sad. Usually I'm all for jokes but this actually isn't a very nice one.

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Mary K. 7 months ago 1 point
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Thank God that Shawn Johnson is still alive. I thought the news was real and couldn't image why her parents decidec to put her to sleep. Anyway, it's very rude and bad to spread news like this. Long live and good health to you, Miss Johnson! God bless you!

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Cassie 7 months ago 1 point
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I agree fully with you. God bless you too!

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T.A. 7 months ago 1 point
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her parents must really be messed up. i mean who would do that???

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YOIT'S51 7 months ago 1 point
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Is this even real

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kaitlin 7 months ago 1 point
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is shawn johnson really dead or is she alive ?

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Robert 7 months ago 1 point
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that was some sick and dumb video. Not funny, why would the parents even choose to be apart of it. 0.0

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elena728 5 months ago 1 point
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her parents seem really happy about it!? what the heck is wrong with them!
STUPID! and especially if its fake!! why doesnt it make sense to keep someone alive, even if they wont able to do everything they did before!

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1partygirl 4 months ago 1 point
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i agree its like they didnt give her a voice. they made her seem like a dog. its like they wanted 2 do that without her even knowing what was going on. and they made money seem like a big deal. she was the one pulling in the money.

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t_tran 5 months ago 1 point
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Just because she isn't gonna be a pro-gymnast anymore doesn't mean they should throw up "euthanasia" up in there..... Such a dumb video they put up ..

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mandy0923 5 months ago 1 point
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Wow, that's really shallow. I'd be horrified if that happened to me. I'd be furious as well as they are. It's really not funny at all.

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christy 5 months ago 1 point
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her parents are messed up if you ask me...first of all you dont have to kill your daughter just bcuz she got an injury that can easily be fixed with time...secondly you dont joke about it and say there wasnt enough money to keep her alive...you do whatver you can...thirdly you just dont do that sort of thing...what were they thinking? i mean they could have joked about something else but about her dying is just wrong...karma karma karma...it just might bite them in the butt

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sara_____lol 5 months ago 1 point
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that was horrible!! it seemed so real!! i actually thought she was dead for a minute and i HAD to google it.

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tyler1234 5 months ago 1 point
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This is the Sickest thing i've ever seen. How could parents talk about there daughter like that. its unbelievable. If the leg injurie is true thats very sad becasue she was a great athlete. an a beautiful girl

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NUITH 5 months ago 1 point
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YES I GOOGLED IT TOO!
SUCH BAD TASTE FOR A JOKE!

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S.A. 5 months ago 1 point
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I wonder if the parents were really in on it or if it was a compilation of ONN's where they computer spliced previous news footage of the parents with voice-over work to match the topic... it's amazing what people can do to video footage with computers nowadays. I wouldn't judge the parents until you KNOW they willingly participated in this childish hoax.

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ilychino 5 months ago 1 point
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They werent her real parents..

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pfcbishop 5 months ago 1 point
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kinda figured it was fake considering the parents werent to upset about it

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D6V9D 5 months ago 1 point
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first post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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edmo2323 5 months ago 1 point
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Is she really dead or what, cuz that;s not kool!!

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edmo2323 5 months ago 1 point
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is she really dead or is this fake, cuz that;s not kool!!!

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Luci0usness03 5 months ago 1 point
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Wow! they're family is pretty sick and twisted. I don't care what they thought they were doing, if they thought it was funny, but I'll tell you what; The day she actually DID die, they won't be on the Onion making satirical jokes about it! How distasteful!

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eric321 5 months ago 1 point
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exactly, if she did really die they wouldn't be joking about it.
so chill the fuck out and worry about REAL issues, not who's being made fun of on youtube.

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eric321 5 months ago 1 point
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oh my god. get a grip, people.
if you watch the video, it's obvious it's a satire. and if you're stupid enough to believe that her parents would have her put down, then you deserve it.

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Wendy 5 months ago 1 point
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what kindof cruel sick joke is this??? this is a 17-teen-year old girl!!! PEOPLE GET A LIFE THIS WAS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO FUNNY!!!

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cd_7684 5 months ago 1 point
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Like WTF I think its Bulshit that she died.........I mean she jus has to be alive right.........I mean if her parents did give her the shot to the head which I dont think really happenend....that is jus fucked up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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doggly 5 months ago 1 point
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Thats not funny... that was the worst joke anyone could of came up wid...

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Rozi 5 months ago 1 point
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This is wrong - why would they advertise this? - a broken bone can't stop a gold medalist! She'll be back even if it's in 10 years!!! That's what PT is for ;-) I have faith in this gal :)

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ashley21234 5 months ago 1 point
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That is sooooo dumb that they would do that!!!!

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ashleypacheco 5 months ago 1 point
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Wtff!! Thts just aint riqht.Why would they killed their own daughter ? tht just looks tht she didn't mean nothing to them . and by the way if she cant do her dream , come on theres a lot of thingg she can do in this world. Look yall not a good parents because if yall loved yall daughter , yall wouldn't killed her , Yall nasty pigs. Why yall killed her ? Now tht yall said yall might have another kid , & what if it comes out a boy , dont tell me yall gonna kill him too. Yall just FUCKED UPP . Yall have no damm heart. she didnt fucking deserved it. Yall just probably killed her cause yall wasn't gonna get no more money!
My Parents would never do tht shit to me.
But NOBODY WOULD BE LIKE SHAWN JOHNSON !!!!!!!! SHE'S THE BEST .WE'LL MISS HER . R.I.P

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POBRE 4 months ago 1 point
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IS SHAWN JAHNSON REALLY DEAD HAW CAN THIS BE SHE IS THE BEST GYMNASTIC THATS I HAVE EVER SEEN. IS THIS A JOKE. WELL THATS NOT GOOD ATE ALL TO BE PLAYING LIKE THAT. GOOD HEALTH TO YOU SHAWN JOHNSON.

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nicky22 2 months ago 1 point
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UGH.IM DISGUSTED BY HER PARENTS...HOW COULD ANYBODY'S PARENTS LIE ABOUT THERE CHILD BEING PUT TO SLEEP.AND HOW COULD THEY EVEN LIE ABOUT HER BEING DEAD!THATS JUST SICK!!!!!!!!

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sarahsmilez 1 month ago 1 point
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Tis is NOT true. I heard the news and was heartbroken, Thinking Shawn was really put to sleep after an injury. But what kind of parents would do such a thing as announcing they deided to euthanize her! That is Horrible ! But Bless Ms.Johnson's heart. She is a strong willed woman and will fight these rumors. We love you Shawn.

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kneeshum 1 month ago 1 point
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i dont get it...its illegal to euthanize a human being - and if u cood - u wouldnt put a gymnast to sleep because she/he broke his/her knee....sick ppl

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toofar 5 days ago 1 point
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I DO NOT GET THIS y woul someones parent want to kill there own daughter over an ingury?? This is to far you guys are confusing ppl i know i was confused and still am?.......
STOP doing this to her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THEY NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THE FRICK THEY'RE DOING!!!!!!!
HER MOM WAS WAY TO HAPPY WHEN THEY WHERE TALKING ABOUT HER NOT BEING HERE DO THEY REALLY NOT WANT THERE DAUGHTER ??????? THAT'S SAD AND SO SO TO FAR !!!!!!!!

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