Change how news sites announce celebrity deaths

Closed 36 signatures

What the petition asks

Create a law requiring news sites who publish articles or social media posts announcing celebrity, public figure, or notable person deaths, or who publish related news articles in the following weeks, must do so in a way that does not allow members of the public to post comments.

Comments on posts about someone’s death are sensitive. While many express love, tribute, and comfort to fans, a minority are filled with harmful trolling and unwarranted speculation. This creates a lasting record that could cause pain for the deceased’s children and family in the future. In announcements such as these, we believe comments only fuel engagement and serve no meaningful purpose.

Timeline

18 Mar 2025	Petition opened for signatures
18 Sep 2025	Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 36

Status Closed

Department Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Opened 18 Mar 2025

Closed 18 Sep 2025

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