Social media trends move at the speed of light. One day everyone is doing a specific dance, and the next, they’re participating in a "challenge" that leaves half the internet cringing. In late 2022, a particularly dark trend took over TikTok: the celebrity death prank. It seemed simple enough. Kids would record their parents' reactions after falsely claiming a beloved star had passed away. But when it hit the household of Hollywood royalty, things got very real, very fast.
The angela bassett son prank wasn't just another viral clip. It became a national conversation about empathy, boundaries, and the weird way we use our phones to bridge the gap between "content" and real life.
The Moment That Went Viral
Imagine you’re Angela Bassett. You’ve spent decades building a career defined by dignity and strength. You’ve also recently navigated the very real, very painful loss of your friend and Black Panther co-star, Chadwick Boseman. Then, your 16-year-old son, Slater Vance, walks into the room with his phone camera rolling.
"Wait Mom, Dad, did you hear this? Michael B. Jordan dead at 35," Slater said in the video.
The reaction was gut-wrenching. Bassett didn't just look surprised; she looked devastated. She gasped, repeating "No, no, no," while rushing toward her son to see the "news" on his screen. Her husband, Courtney B. Vance, was also in the room, visibly skeptical but clearly caught off guard.
It was a 27-second clip that felt like an eternity for anyone watching.
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Why This Prank Hit Differently
Most people doing this trend were lying about stars they didn't know personally—folks like Ozzy Osbourne or Kris Jenner. But Slater wasn't just talking about a celebrity. He was talking about a family friend. Michael B. Jordan isn't just "Killmonger" to Angela Bassett; he's a colleague she shared intense, emotional sets with.
The Shadow of Chadwick Boseman
You can't talk about this without mentioning Chadwick. The wound of his passing was still fresh for the Black Panther family. Pranking a mother about the death of another young, vibrant co-star felt, to many, like poking a bruise that hadn't finished healing.
- Public Outcry: Twitter (now X) and TikTok exploded. People weren't laughing.
- The Connection: Users pointed out that Bassett had just finished promoting Wakanda Forever, a movie literally centered on grief and the loss of a lead actor.
- The Tone: While some teens thought it was "just a joke," the adult world saw it as a massive lapse in judgment.
Honestly, teenagers make mistakes. It's part of the job description of being 16. But when your parents are icons, your "learning moments" happen in front of millions of people.
The Tearful Apology and the Aftermath
Slater didn't double down. Once the gravity of the situation—and the internet's collective wrath—hit him, he scrubbed the video. Not long after, he posted a formal, tearful apology. He looked shaken.
He admitted that the prank was "completely disrespectful" and "harmful." He specifically apologized to Michael B. Jordan’s family, noting that Jordan is actually one of his idols. It was a rare moment of a Gen Z creator taking full, unironic accountability without the typical "I'm sorry if you were offended" phrasing.
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Angela’s Take on the "Teachable Lesson"
Angela Bassett handled it like the class act she is. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight later, she didn't throw her son under the bus. She called it a "teachable lesson."
She basically said that we all make mistakes, but the key is owning them, taking responsibility, and moving forward. It was a masterclass in "gentle parenting" combined with firm boundaries. She didn't need to issue a 10-page press release; her son’s visible remorse and her calm response said enough.
The Bigger Picture: TikTok's Obsession with Grief
The angela bassett son prank highlighted a weird trend in digital culture: the commodification of shock. Why do we find it entertaining to see people we love in pain?
For a few weeks, the "Celebrity Death Prank" was the hottest thing on the app. It relied on the "jump scare" of grief. But as celebrities like Andy Cohen and Finneas pointed out, there’s something inherently "mean" about it. You’re asking someone to show their most vulnerable side—the fear of losing someone—just for a few thousand likes.
Notable Reactions to the Trend:
- Andy Cohen: He told fans to stop tagging him in "fake death" videos, calling the trend "depressing."
- Finneas: Billie Eilish’s brother was blunt, saying he hadn't laughed once at the videos and that it was just "mean" to laugh at parents' vulnerability.
- The Public: The trend largely died out shortly after the Slater Vance incident. It was the "jumping the shark" moment for the prank.
Moving Forward After a Viral Blunder
If you’re a parent or a teen navigating the weird world of social media trends, there are a few things to take away from this saga.
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First, context matters. A joke that works for a stranger might be deeply traumatizing for someone who has experienced recent loss. Second, the "send" button is permanent. Even if you delete a video, the internet has receipts. Slater learned that the hard way when his 27-second clip became a headline on CNN and TMZ.
Basically, if the "punchline" of your joke requires someone you love to feel genuine pain or terror, it’s probably not a joke. It’s just a bad idea.
Practical Steps for Social Media Safety:
- Pause before you post: Ask yourself if the person in the video would actually find it funny if they saw it later.
- Know your audience: Celebrity or not, certain topics (like death) are generally off-limits for a reason.
- Own the mistake: If you do mess up, a sincere, "no-excuses" apology goes a long way in de-escalating a PR nightmare.
The Bassett-Vance family seems to have moved on, and Slater has kept a lower profile since. It serves as a reminder that even in the age of viral "clout," some things—like family and respect—are still worth more than a trending hashtag.
If you’re looking to improve your own digital etiquette or help a teen navigate these waters, start by having an honest conversation about the "why" behind these trends. Understanding the impact of our digital footprints is the first step toward not becoming the next viral example of a prank gone wrong.