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Arts & EntertainmentGeorge Martin

People Are Mistaking the ‘Game of Thrones’ Creator for Beatles Producer George Martin

Lucinda Shen
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Lucinda Shen
Lucinda Shen
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Lucinda Shen
By
Lucinda Shen
Lucinda Shen
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March 9, 2016, 11:21 AM ET
"Game of Thrones" Autograph Signing - Comic-Con International 2014
Writer George R.R. Martin of "Game of Thrones" signs autographs during the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention-Day 3 at the San Diego Convention Center.Rose/Getty Images)Tiffany Rose — Getty Images

It’s a public case of mistaken identity.

On Tuesday morning, one of the most successful music producers ever, 90-year-old Beatles producer George Martin, died. The news was met with an outpouring of affection and grief across the internet for the man who had been lovingly nicknamed the “fifth Beatle.”

But in another segment of the internet, the news of George Martin’s death sounded an awful lot like a death knell for another beloved artist whose name differed by just two letters: George R.R. Martin, the 67-year-old creator of Game of Thrones whose health has been closely monitored by fans since the thus-far incomplete series became a runaway hit.

Fans reacted with an emotional cocktail of grief, shock, guilt, relief, and generally conflicted.

https://twitter.com/TheRickyV/status/707508598365102080

No one told me George RR Martin died

— chase klein (@klein_chase) February 29, 2016

I was near emotional breakdown until I've realized it's not that George Martin https://t.co/SkhqCHFYE2

— Ivan XM🦀 (@ixaos) March 9, 2016

 

SOMEONE NAMED “GEORGE MARTIN” DIED AND I THOUGHT IT WAS GEORGE R R MARTIN AND I ALMOST SCREAMED IN CLASS

— stephanie boisclair (@savagedturtles) March 9, 2016

RIP George Martin not to be confused with George R R Martin who isn't allowed to die until he finishes writing the next book.

— The Volatile Mermaid (@OhNoSheTwitnt) March 9, 2016

Is it bad that I was relieved when I realised it was George Martin who had died and not George RR Martin? I need to know the end!

— Jakespeare (@jakeyt23) March 9, 2016

https://twitter.com/VicTheEpic/status/707471045863862276

I'm sorry to hear that #GeorgeMartin has died but I'm glad I was mistaken in thinking it was #GeorgeRRMartin

— Jack Dowd (@stforce1) March 9, 2016

https://twitter.com/stillfuckinitup/status/707461900272062465

#GeorgeMartin For one second, I thought it was George RR Martin, and thought I'd never be able to read Winds of winter.

— 𝙿𝚂 (@dostoyevesque) March 9, 2016

https://twitter.com/SpiralHorn/status/707466188754952193

The two have also had their photos mixed up, which likely generated more confusion:

LOL, @kolo8 just killed George RR Martin. pic.twitter.com/LuyXRGPpev

— John Davidson (@JD24) March 9, 2016

 

The confused fans however were outweighed by the flood of comments mourning the passing of producer George Martin, and the tributes celebrating his life:

George Martin saw something in the Beatles no one else did. Other record execs in England told them "bands with guitars are on the way out."

— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) March 9, 2016

Just want to say this today… Thank You George Martin.

— Don Gonyea NPR (@DonGonyea) March 9, 2016

Remembering George Martin, who was given an honorary degree by Oxford in 2011 pic.twitter.com/DCVVUxbPMk

— University of Oxford (@UniofOxford) March 9, 2016

https://twitter.com/David_Boreanaz/status/707588594211291136

"The world has lost a truly great man…" Paul McCartney on George Martin: https://t.co/M2ySCKfisO pic.twitter.com/dDE5cm2F0a

— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) March 9, 2016

 

 

 

George Martin is survived by his wife Judy Martin, and four children.

About the Author
Lucinda Shen
By Lucinda Shen
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