Blogger Jason Lee has apologized for reporting that England’s Queen Elizabeth II was dead.
Lee, who runs Hollywood Unlocked Instagram blog, published an apology after deleting his posts about the Queen.
“Although I’ve never been wrong when breaking a story, because this involves The Queen, this is one time I would want to be. And based on Wednesday’s report from the Palace, I can say my sources got this wrong and I sincerely apologize to The Queen and the Royal Family.”
Lee apologized after Buckingham Palace announced the Queen, 95, had spoken with Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a weekly phone call on Wednesday, Feb. 23.
After becoming the laughing stock of Instagram, Lee doubled down, insisting he trusted his source.
However, Lee’s “source” turned out to be a fan of the late Mark Lanegan, a member of Queens of Stone Age grunge band, who died on Feb. 22, at age 57. No cause of death was announced.
Lanagan’s death was announced on social media, an hour before Lee posted his click-bait post about the British Monarch.
Lee claimed his “trusted source” told him the Queen had died after she failed to show up at a wedding. However, the Queen was not on the guest list and she did not know the bride or groom.
The triple vaccinated Queen tested positive for COVID, and was experiencing mild flu-like symptoms. She canceled virtual meetings while recovering at Windsor Castle.
