NFLNBANHLMLBWNBAWorld CupTennis
Featured Video
Yamamoto No-Hitter Ends In 9th 😳
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - DECEMBER 04:  Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps attends a Subway press conference to promote healthy living and lifestyle among childrenon December 04, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.  (Photo by Rafael Neddermeyer/Getty Images)
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - DECEMBER 04: Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps attends a Subway press conference to promote healthy living and lifestyle among childrenon December 04, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Rafael Neddermeyer/Getty Images)Rafael Neddermeyer/Getty Images

Fred Phelps Dies, so Twitter Mourns the Still-Alive Olympian Michael Phelps

Mark PattersonMar 21, 2014

Westboro Baptist Church leader Fred Phelps died at the age of 84, the BBC reports, but that didn't stop some on Twitter from confusing him for 28-year-old Michael Phelps, subsequently mourning him instead. 

Fred was a controversial figure, as the BBC explains, for his church's views on homosexuality and the military. 

By contrast, Michael is the most successful Olympian in history, with 18 gold medals to his name.

TOP NEWS

Aldon Smith Dies at 36

Breaking News

2026 NBA Finals - San Antonio Spurs v New York Knicks

Wemby Admits to Finals Fatigue

An easy thing to mix up? Apparently so.  

At one stage, "RIP Michael Phelps" was trending on Twitter, as noted by Chris Kaltenbach of The Baltimore Sun, and a sampling of the messages tells their own story:

Phelps is, we should stress, alive and well.

Yamamoto No-Hitter Ends In 9th 😳

TOP NEWS

Aldon Smith Dies at 36

Breaking News

2026 NBA Finals - San Antonio Spurs v New York Knicks

Wemby Admits to Finals Fatigue

Latest World Cup Standings 📊

World Cup LIVE Blog: Day 3 ⚡

Brazil Extends World Cup Streak 📈
Bleacher Report2h

Brazil Extends World Cup Streak 📈

TRENDING ON B/R