The fake news articles she shared included headlines such as “Breaking News, Just 30 minutes ago, James Hetfield’s family confirmed some heartbreaking news. Hi ex-wife Francesca Hetfield has passed away.”
Francesca’s direct response highlights the ongoing issue of misinformation spreading on social media platforms. This particularly affects celebrities and their families.
Death hoaxes targeting musicians’ families or ex-partners have become increasingly common. Bots, clickbait sites, and AI-generated fake content often fuel these. The fact-checking organization has documented a 300% rise in music-related hoaxes since 2024.
James and Francesca Hetfield had tied the knot in 1997 after meeting in 1993. They shared four children. The couple separated in 2013 after 17 years of marriage. James filed for divorce in 2016 citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalized in late 2018 without public acrimony. Francesca received primary custody of their younger children and their Marin County, California home.
