Reports of Rick Astley's death have been greatly exaggerated. Contact Music reports that despite rumors circulating the Internet about Astley's passing, the singer is alive and well and preparing for an upcoming concert in Denmark. The hoax apparently began when a fake press release appeared on CNN's iReport site, which allows users to post newsworthy content. According to the document, Astley died in a hotel room in Berlin after paramedics were unable to revive him. But a statement from a spokesperon for Astley on the UK singer's official website proves the whole thing is a hoax:

I have just spoken with Rick, who is in Copenhagen preparing for his show on Friday evening at the Tivoli Gardens. I think this is somebody's idea of a joke or retribution for the Rick Rolling internet prank.

In a week marred by several bonafide celebrity deaths, an even greater number of fake death reports have poured in. George Clooney, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus and Jeff Goldblum have all had to counter recent falso rumors of their ultimely demises. [Contact Music, Associated Content]