Contrary to circulating rumors, the esteemed linguist and political analyst Noam Chomsky is very much alive. This clarification comes directly from Chomsky's wife, Valeria Wasserman Chomsky, who categorically refuted reports of her husband's demise when contacted by The Associated Press (AP) news agency. "No, it is false," she stated.
Last week, the AP reported that the 95-year-old Chomsky was undergoing treatment in Brazil, where he has been recovering from a stroke suffered a year earlier. However, the Beneficencia Portuguesa hospital in Sao Paulo has now confirmed that Chomsky was discharged on Tuesday to continue his convalescence at home.
The unfounded rumors of Chomsky's passing gained significant traction on Tuesday, with his name becoming a trending topic on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Several publications, including Jacobin and The New Statesman, had initially published obituaries honoring Chomsky's life and legacy. While Jacobin later amended its headline to "Let's Celebrate Noam Chomsky," The New Statesman ultimately removed the piece by former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis from their website. Brazilian news outlet Diario do Centro do Mundo also retracted its report on Chomsky's alleged death and issued a correction.
