Last month, country music star Joe Diffie tragically became one of the first celebrities to pass away from coronavirus when he died at the age of 61 after testing positive for COVID-19. In the weeks since then, conspiracy theories have started to spread claiming that he didn’t actually die of coronavirus and actually passed away of something else entirely.
Now, his widow Tara Terpening Diffie is speaking out to shoot these rumors down.
Fox News reported in the weeks since Diffie’s death, internet sleuths have been claiming media reports hid that he actually had lung cancer. These false rumors appear to have stemmed from an online obituary for Diffie’s father, Joe Diffie Sr., who passed away in November 2018 from cancer.
Tara just set the record straight with a statement to the Associated press in which she begged the public to leave her family alone so they can grieve in peace.
“There have been some untrue statements about my late husband that are false and hurtful,” Tara said. “Joe did not have lung cancer and was a healthy, loving father, husband and friend. He also kept a very busy touring schedule and loved his fans who’ve supported him all these years.”
Diffie died just days after announcing that he had tested positive for coronavirus, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people all over the world.
“I am under the care of medical professionals and currently receiving treatment after testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19),” Diffie said in announcing his diagnosis. “My family and I are asking for privacy at this time. We want to remind the public and all my fans to be vigilant, cautious and careful during this pandemic.
He is survived by his wife and seven children as well as by millions of fans who continue to mourn him.
“Grammy-winning country music legend Joe Diffie passed away today, Sunday, March 29, from complications of coronavirus (COVID-19),” his family said in a statement announcing his death last month. “His family respects their privacy at this time.”
Hopefully this clears up any confusion that there is over Diffie’s death. It’s time for the public to leave his family be so they can grieve the man that meant so much to them.
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