Social media is off to a fantastic start in the New Year. A few weeks after mixing up Nelson Mandela (RIP) and Morgan Freeman, Twitter spent the first day of 2014 mourning the death of rap mogul Suge Knight. Of course, the former Death Row CEO is not dead — instead it was his apparent doppelgänger, actor James Avery, who had passed away at the age of 68. Avery is best known for playing Uncle Phil in the television series The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air.
The Epoch Times reported some tweets also mixed up Avery with Rick Ross, and, of course, talk show host Dr. Phil.
Good work, everyone, even the trolls. Here’s a sample of some of the pandemonium. Buckle in.
Smh RIP james avery (uncle phil) pic.twitter.com/oCgEWPL9jL
— Him (@artillery909) January 1, 2014
RIP Suge Knight, I can't believe you died. We gonna miss you. pic.twitter.com/0Pnj2wqvwj
— thebe (@WhosStephen) January 1, 2014
I just saw a tweet that said RIP Uncle Phil and it was a picture of Suge Knight. I really couldn't help but laugh.
— Kellyn ♡ (@kellynsays) January 1, 2014
Y'all love making death jokes. Uncle Phil just passed and you're already throwing pics of Suge Knight up saying "RIP" smh
— Maximilian (@oldfishinghat) January 1, 2014
I always got Uncle Phil confused with Suge Knight when I was a kid.
— Stephanie Bennett (@stephMEM) January 1, 2014
Did you know Uncle Phil was really Suge Knight #FunFact pic.twitter.com/JeDoxPdOZD
— ColbyCo (@Colby610) January 1, 2014
Rest in peace Suge Knight pic.twitter.com/RkH6C1ucoj
— Boy Meets Curve (@JesusWasMyPupil) January 1, 2014
RIP Uncle Phil but DAMN hella funny to see people put up pix of Suge Knight instead
— Jason (@chopblockphx) January 2, 2014
So I've seen folks post pictures of Suge Knight and James Earl Jones when talking about the passing of James Avery.
Shake my DAMN head.
— Robert Greene II (@robgreeneII) January 2, 2014
i need a break from social media… i'm already tired of the #RIPUnclePhil Suge Knight pics
— james brown (@itwas1ofthem) January 2, 2014