Reports of Noam Chomsky’s death, which circulated widely on Tuesday, have been refuted by his wife, Valeria Wasserman Chomsky. Responding to inquiries from the Associated Press, she confirmed, “No, it is false.”
The 95-year-old renowned linguist and activist had been hospitalized in Brazil due to recovery from a stroke suffered a year ago. However, the Beneficencia Portuguesa hospital in Sao Paulo confirmed his discharge on Tuesday, indicating he would continue his treatment at home.
False reports of Chomsky’s death led to widespread misinformation on social media, with Chomsky trending on X. Publications like Jacobin and The New Statesman prematurely published obituaries, although Jacobin revised its headline, and The New Statesman removed its article entirely. Brazilian news outlet Diario do Centro do Mundo also retracted its report and issued a correction.
Noam Chomsky, celebrated for his critiques of U.S. foreign policy, has been a significant academic figure. After decades at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he joined the University of Arizona’s College of Social & Behavioral Sciences in 2017. The Chomskys have maintained a residence in Brazil since 2015.