TikTok and other social media platforms have the potential to make regular individuals into overnight celebrities, know the age and real name of Omar the Ref
However, many people pay a price for that. Meet the latest addition to the list, Omar.
Who is Omar the Ref as death reports of the Baltimore basketball meme referee go viral, what is his real name and is he dead or alive
Omar the Referee gained notoriety on TikTok for his bravery on the basketball court. Even though Omar’s climb to stardom was quick, there have been online rumours that he passed away.
When fact-checkers clarified that Omar the Referee is still alive and refuted the TikTok sensation’s death claims, there was an outpouring of tributes.
Rumours About The Death Of TikTok Fame Omar The Referee
The rapid rise to fame can often have a negative impact on an individual. Omar the Referee experienced exactly this when a single video propelled him to fame on TikTok. The unaware basketball referee became the subject of death rumours, which diminished his reputation.
Online, there have been unconfirmed reports that Omar committed suicide as a result of cyberbullying. This was disseminated on social media by several accounts that seemed to be well-known news organisations, like the BBC.
“Tyrone Johnson, 1963–2023, was such a happy person,” the bogus obituary post stated, along with a picture of a cemetery. Additionally, a photograph of a guy in a hospital bed was used to show that Omar the Referee was dying.
A Quick Fact Check On Omar The Referee: Dead Or Alive?
These rumours were proven to be false after a careful fact-check. It has only recently been revealed which genuine TikTok user had shared the disturbing pictures of Omar’s rumoured death. This led to concerns regarding its authenticity.
A lot of inconsistencies in the account that sent the BBC tweet, in particular, made it obvious who was posting it. The logo’s font was Comic Sans, and it did not match the profile photo of the genuine BBC account.
The BBC logo’s black and white colour scheme was incorrect too. More significantly, neither Omar’s family nor friends have publicly confirmed his death, nor has it been reported by any reliable news outlet.
Who Is Omar the Referee?
Omar was added to TikTok’s virality map with a straightforward video showing off his extraordinary reflexes. A basketball was miraculously caught by the referee in midair, sparing close spectators from harm. His poise and swagger rapidly won over viewers all over the world.
As the video gained millions of views on TikTok, users connected with Omar’s real response and sense of genuine first-hand surprise.
Omar, who is originally from Baltimore, Maryland, was well-known in the neighbourhood basketball scene long before he became famous on TikTok. His real name is not known.
The Cost Of Rapid Stardom: Meme Subject
As the number of views on the video grew, the basketball coach became a meme.
The tagline “Are you alright ladies?” was picked up by users of social media sites like Twitter to highlight the flare of Omar the Referee’s catch.
i really don't think omar the referee is dead because the bbc screenshot is fake pic.twitter.com/dwImLM1mtC
— stella (@neetsnart) August 10, 2023