We came across multiple posts on Facebook claiming that popular martial artist and actor Jackie Chan has died during the recent floods in Beijing, China. These posts linked to various articles and featured different photos of Chan, including images of him in a hospital and even in a casket. Strikingly, they all used almost identical captions, suggesting coordinated or recycled content, which prompted us to take a closer look at the content.

On closer examination, the articles were inconsistent in their claims. One article stated that Chan died while attempting to rescue elderly residents during the flood, describing him as “wearing a simple rain jacket, holding a steel umbrella, braving the downpour to guide others to safety.” Another claimed his vehicle was caught in a flooded underpass while returning from an event, and that rescue efforts were unsuccessful.

Chan was reportedly in Beijing in early August, for the launch of his new movie, “The Shadow’s Edge”. His presence in the city around the time of the severe flooding in northern China may have made the rumours of his death seem believable to the casual reader.

Floods in China

Recently, northern parts of China, including Beijing, reported wide-scale flooding following prolonged heavy rainfall, leading to the evacuation of over 80,000 residents in Beijing alone and at least 44 reported deaths. While the severe weather alert was lifted on the morning of 5 August 2025, government officials continued to warn residents to remain cautious of isolated downpours and potential landslides.

Is Jackie Chan alive?

Based on our searches, the earliest Facebook posts about Chan’s alleged death were published on 1 August 2025, two days before the premiere of his latest blockbuster. Videos and photographs from the event show Chan alive and well, with several netizens sharing footage of him alongside co-star Tony Leung at the premiere.

Moreover, Chan made global headlines on 4 August 2025, after videos of him giving martial arts classes to NBA star Jimmy Butler went viral on social media. Butler, a player for the Golden State Warriors, was recently in Beijing as part a promotional tour for Chinese sportswear manufacturer Li-Ning. Notably, these posts emerged after several of the death-hoax claims had already begun circulating online.

We also conducted reverse image searches on several of the controversial photos used in the Facebook posts, such as images showing Chan in a casket but were unable to trace them to any credible sources. Using free online AI image detection tools like Sightengine, we found that the images were likely AI-generated.

Additionally, there have been no credible reports from mainstream media outlets confirming Chan’s death. Considering his global fame, the absence of such coverage further undermines the credibility of the claims.

Given the lack of credible evidence, the inconsistencies in the death claims, and clear proof of Chan’s public appearances in recent days, we assess the claim that Jackie Chan has died during the recent Beijing floods to be false.

Why kill off Jackie Chan?

This is not the first time the 71-year-old actor and martial artist has been the subject of death hoaxes. Similar false claims circulated in 2011 and 2015, prompting Chan to publicly refute the rumours. These repeated incidents suggest he remains a frequent target for such false claims.

Despite his global success, Jackie Chan is also a polarising figure. His pro-Beijing, anti-democracy views, such as questioning the need for a free press, have drawn criticism in Hong Kong, while reports of personal controversies, including an extramarital affair, have sparked backlash in Mainland China. His divisive image may make him a prime target for hoaxes, possibly exploiting his fame to drive clicks and traffic or spreading rumors to provoke emotions and test the spread of disinformation for political or social purposes.

When we examined the websites spreading these claims, namely the Daily News, TodayOnUs, and TopNews, they offer little to no information about the sites themselves. They were filled with sensational headlines, clickbait images, and numerous ads.

Using free WHOIS domain lookup tools, which provide publicly available site registration details, we found that many of these sites were created only recently, in 2024 or mid-2025. These suggest that the websites are clickbait-driven platforms likely profiting from ad revenue.

The Facebook accounts promoting such websites also had limited activity or generic profiles, indicating they may be fake or automated accounts used to amplify the content and drive traffic, explaining the repeated headlines across various accounts. Such websites may also pose security risks, including malware downloads through prompts to install fake browser extensions or requests to share personal data disguised as discounts or video access, so users should exercise caution when engaging with them.

In an age of rapid social media sharing, public figures like Chan, especially those who straddle entertainment, politics, and international attention, become easy targets for misinformation and disinformation. It is crucial to verify such claims through credible sources before engaging with or sharing them.