Actor and Strictly Come Dancing star Danny John-Jules has launched a furious attack on the creator of a cruel online death hoax that falsely claimed he had passed away from cancer.
Furious Instagram Rant Targets Hoaxer
On Thursday, 18 December 2025, the Death in Paradise and Red Dwarf legend took to his Instagram account to share a screenshot of a fake Facebook post. The post, from an account named 'Death in Paradise Fans', featured a fabricated death announcement purportedly from his son, Dante Langlais-John-Jules.
The announcement stated: "With indescribable sorrow, we share the news that my father, Danny John-Jules, has passed away. My father fought cancer for a long time and has now finally found peace with God."
Star Condemns 'Disrespect' of a Serious Disease
In a blistering caption accompanying the screenshot, a very-much-alive Danny John-Jules condemned the hoax as a profound disrespect to those affected by cancer. He wrote that the person behind it had brought his son into a "disrespect of a terrible disease that blights the lives of so many."
He issued a strongly-worded rebuke to the hoaxer, granting permission for severe retribution in a characteristically colourful turn of phrase. The actor highlighted that cancer has personally affected people close to him, including his former Strictly dance partner, Amy Dowden, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023.
Fans Rally in Support and Condemn Hoax Trend
Followers and fans quickly flooded the comments with messages of support and shared their disgust at the hoax. One user, referencing a personal battle with the disease, wrote: "My father is indeed fighting this horrible battle with cancer... so to play a joke on that is the lowest level."
Another supporter commented on the disturbing trend of fake death announcements, stating: "I've seen a bunch of other hoax death announcements today alone! Why do people think this is funny or a good way to get engagement?"
Danny John-Jules is best known for his roles as Officer Dwayne Myers in Death in Paradise and Cat in Red Dwarf. He competed on the sixteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2018 with professional dancer Amy Dowden, finishing in seventh place.
Their partnership was previously subject to media scrutiny, with tabloid reports at the time alleging bullying behaviour from John-Jules – claims he has vehemently and repeatedly denied. On the My Time Capsule podcast, he labelled Strictly a "dirty show" on that level and accused producers of fabricating the story for publicity.
A BBC spokesperson previously stated the bullying claim was "categorically untrue." The corporation is currently facing separate allegations from 2025 contestant Thomas Skinner regarding vote rigging, though the BBC says it has received no formal legal paperwork.
