Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the deep dive. We're here to cut through
the noise and get you straight to the knowledge. You know,
when you're scrolling online maybe yeah, or just searching for
something and you see these completely baseless rumors pop up,
especially about celebrities, public figures, that someone's died, it makes
you stop, right, It makes you think, wait, what is that?
(00:20):
Is that actually true?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Oh? Absolutely, it happens all the time the Internet. Well,
it can make almost anything seem believable for a moment.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
It really can, especially with repeated headlines and those search suggestions. Exactly.
So today we're doing a deep dive into a really
prominent example of this, looking at the career, the enduring
career of Malcolm Jamal Warner.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Right theo Huxtable. For so many people, the Cosby show
an iconic role, no question.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Huge, launched them into millions of homes. But let's be
absolutely clear right up front, despite what feels like a
ton of online searches things like is Malcolm Janal Warner
dead or even really specific weird ones like Malcolm Jamal Warner.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Drowning, which are completely false.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Completely unequivocally, he is alive. He is thriving as of
today Monday, July twenty first, twenty twenty five. He is
very much active, very much working.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yeah, So our mission today it's kind of twofold, isn't it.
First we want to just definitively shut down these rumors,
these things that plague public figures like Warner, yet the
facts straight exactly. And second, we want to give you
the full picture, the true picture of his career, because
it's remarkable, really multifaceted, way beyond just THEO. We'll look
(01:33):
at his work as an actor, sure, but also as
a director, a musician, give you the whole scope.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
And you know, why should you care beyond just this
one actor? Well, because this whole situation it tells us
a lot about online misinformation, how it works, how it spreads.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
It's fascinating and frankly a bit frustrating sometimes totally.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
So we're going to unpack how these rumors get started,
why they stick around, and understanding that, well, that's a
really useful shortcut to being better informed generally in this
digital age.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
So let's get into it.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Okay, First things first, the sheer volume of false info
out there about Malcolm Jamal Warner's well being. It's genuinely staggering.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
It really is. You see the search trends, the social
media posts. But no, Malcolm Jamal Warner did.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Not die, zero credible reports, none from any reputable news source.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
And that specific detail you mentioned, Malcolm Jamal Warner drowning
in Costa Rica, pure fabrication, sensationalism for clicks.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Exactly, clickbait. That's what drives so much of it. Queries
like Malcolm Jamal Warner death or theoded. They usually come
from content design, just to grab your attention, make you click,
even if the headline is totally misleading.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
It shows how fast this stuff can spread online, right,
unverified information takes off.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Yeah, And what's interesting is Warner himself has sometimes, you know,
addressed these rumors.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
He has often with a bit of humor actually, which
is quite graceful considering it really is.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
But it shows the reality, doesn't it. Public figures sometimes
have to actively fight again completely made up stories about themselves.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
And the fact that so many people are searching is
Malcolm Jamal Warner dead just shows how effective this misinformation
can be. It really gets lodged in people's minds.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
So let's reiterate. As of July twenty twenty five, He
is working, he's starring in TV shows, he's making music,
he's out there making public appearances.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
His work continues. That's the reality. His contributions to the
arts are ongoing.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Okay, so let's talk about where it all started. For
most people, THEO Huxtable, The Cosby Show, Right.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
You have to start there, nineteen eighty four. That show
wasn't just a hit, it was a cultural phenomenon.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Oh completely. It changed the game for how African American
families were shown on TV. Became the anchor of NBC's
Must See TV.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
And Warner played THEO, the only son of Cliff and Claire.
He was just so relatable.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
He really was that typical teenager kind of navigating school girls,
what he wants to do with his life, often funny,
sometimes a big goofy.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
And you watched him grow up over eight seasons, right,
dealing with dyslexia, which was pretty groundbreaking to show on
mainstream TV back then.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Huge, Yeah, exploring jobs, relationships, Warner's performance it felt really authentic.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
People loved the millions did all of the world, and.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
His scenes with Bill Cosby as Cliff Huxtable, they were
often the heart of the show. Weren't they funny? Yeah,
but also touching on real stuff, father son things, education,
life lessons.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Absolutely, the show was consistently top rated. It made Warner
a household name overnight, basically a role model for a
whole generation.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
And that early experience being on such a massive hit.
It also gave him exposure behind the camera too, didn't.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
It It did. He got into directing episodes of The
Cosby Show itself. That insight seeing production from that side
so young, that's clearly been important for his whole career,
for his longevity.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Okay, But then then there's the other side, the really
difficult complex part right.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
The legacy of the show and everyone involved. It's been
massively complicated by the allegation against Bill Cosby his conviction,
even though it was later overturned, it changed everything.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
It forced this huge reevaluation of the show's place in history,
and it definitely impacted the careers and perceptions of the cast.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
It put them in an incredibly tough spot. Warner, the
other cast members, how do you navigate that your connection
to the show that made you famous versus the public's
very understandable reaction to what came out about its star. Yeah,
and Warner, I think has handled it very thoughtfully. He's
spoken about the complex feelings, acknowledging the show's positive impact,
(05:34):
but also the deep pain caused by Cosby's actions.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
He seems to have kept a respectful distance from Cosby
personally while still valuing his own experience on the show itself.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Yeah, exactly, a very professional, careful approach.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
And it's that resilience, you know, navigating that complexity, continuing
to work and be in the public eye. It just
makes these bizarre death rumors seem even more baffling.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
It really does, because he didn't just fade away after
not at all. He built this incredibly diverse career over decades.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Showing real versatility actor, director, musician.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
That's right, his filmography, his TV credits, they show someone
who kept working, kept evolving. After Cosby ended in ninety two,
he made a point of looking for rules that were
different that let him grow beyond THEO and he found.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Them, like Malcolm Minetti That's come with Adie Driffin on upn.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Right nineteen ninety six to two thousand. He played the
more mature, responsible character there, showed his comedic timing as
an adult.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
That later remember him on Community.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Yeah, Andre Shirley's ex husband twenty eleven twenty twelve fit
right into that really sharp ensemble comedy.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
But he also moved into drama quite deliberately.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
He did Major Crimes the TNT drama. He was Lt.
Chuck Cooper for several seasons twenty thirteen to twenty eighteen.
That was a solid dramatic role showing a different side.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
And then American crime Story The People VOJ Simpson in
twenty sixteen he played Out Callings.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yes, received a lot of praise for that as part
of that incredible ensemble cast, bringing that whole event back
to life.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
But I think for a lot of people recently, the
big one was doctor A. J. Austen, the Raptor.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Oh definitely on The Resident, the Fox medical drama from
twenty eighteen until it ended in twenty twenty three.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
Brilliant surgeon. Kind of arrogant it first, right.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
But then you saw his character arc becoming more empathetic,
really beloved by the end. That role really connected with viewers.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
Yeah, Malcolm Jamal Warner The Resident that became a really
familiar thing for people watching primetime. Showed he could carry
serious dramatic storylines.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
And like you mentioned earlier. He directs too. It wasn't
just a one off thing on Cosby, No.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
He kept doing it, directed episodes of Malcolm and Eddie
Nickelodeon shows like All That and Keenan and Kel.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
It shows a real understanding of the whole TV production process,
not just acting. Artistic versatility.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Okay, and here's something that might actually surprise some people.
The music.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Yes, he's a really accomplished musician, a bassist.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
And singer, spoken word artist. He's released albums Jazz R and.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
B Fusion, Prince Here, Selfless.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
And Get This. His twenty fifteen album MJW was nominated.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
For a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album. That's incredible.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
It really is Blend's jazz funk spoken word. He performs
regularly too. It's clearly a real passion for him beyond
the acting.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
So yeah, primarily TV, but he's done a films too,
maybe not huge blockbusters, but roles in movies like The
Cleanup Crew, Restaurant, the comedian.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Working across different genres, keeping busy. So you have this long,
active career, this multifaceted talent, and yet even his private
life gets tangled up in these online rumors. Sometimes people
search for you know, Malcolm Jamal Warner wife or Malcolm
Jamal Warner kids.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
They do, and as of now July twenty twenty five,
he is married to Jessica Williams, an actress and dancer.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Right. They reportedly married around twenty seventeen, and they have
a daughter, also born around.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Then, But he tends to keep his family life very private,
doesn't talk about it much publicly.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
We're just totally understandable, completely.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
But sometimes that desire for privacy can kind of inadvertently
create a vacuum where speculation or even false rumors can
creep in because there's just less verified public information.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
That makes sense. And before his current marriage, he had
some high profile relationships.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Too, Yes, with Michelle Thomas, who played his girlfriend Justine
on The Posby Show.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
And tragically she passed away young from cancer back in
nineteen ninety eight.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Right, And that specific point is actually quite key. Potentially,
it's possible some of the confusion these persistent false death
rumors might stem from people conflating his life with the
real tragedy of someone closely connected to him, like Michelle Thomas.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
That's a really interesting point. He also dated Karen Molina
White from a different world and had a long relationship with.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Regina King, and just to touch on it, since people
search for it, Malcolm Jamal Warner. Net Worth Reports estimated
around ten to twelve million dollars as of twenty.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Twenty five, which reflects, you know, decades of consistent work
The Cosby Show earnings, yes, but also everything since then, acting,
directing music.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
It shows how steady work and diversifying your talents can
build a career and wealth in this industry, even if
you're not, say, a huge movie star.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
Okay, so this brings us right back to the core issue.
These rumors, the death rumors, that specific drowning story, they're
just such a stark example of how misinformation works online.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
They really are. When people search TMZ, Malcolm Jamal Warner
or just who died today, they might stumble across this
fig stuff that.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
Costa Rica drowning thing feels like a classic Internet hoax,
doesn't it, Maybe mixing up details from some other unrelated
event or just totally made up for shock value.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Absolutely and beyond just clickbait. There's this psychological element too,
the illusory truth effect.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Ah right, The more you hear something, even if it's
completely false.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
The more familiar it feels, and the more likely you
are to start thinking, well, maybe there's something to it,
even subconsciously.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
And like you said, the confusion with real tragedies involving
other people, especially maybe others can to the cosby who
have passed away, like Michelle Thomas. That adds another layer
of potential confusion.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
It likely does. So why do these things stick around
so stubbornly?
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Yeah? Why?
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Well? False death reports are unfortunately a pretty common tactic
for shady websites or social media accounts. They want clicks,
they want ad revenue.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Exploiting emotion curiosity.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Exactly, and things spread incredibly fast before anyone has a
chance to verify them. Plus, the algorithms on social media,
the code.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
That decides what we see in our.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Feeds, right, those algorithms can accidentally amplify these hoaxes. They
see something getting a lot of clicks or shares, and
they push it out to more people, making it seem
more legitimate or widely believed than it actually is.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
So a really key insight here is just pause before
you share something shocking like that. Just take a second,
do a quick search on a couple of actual news sites.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Yes, that simple step can break the cycle of amplification.
It's not critical thinking, isn't it fine info from multiple reputable.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Sources, especially before believing or spreading these kinds of claims.
The fact that so many searches for is Malcolm Jamal
Warner dead exists really just hammers home how powerful these
rumors are, even when they fly in the face of reality.
So wrapping things up, we've looked at Malcolm Jamal Warner's
career right from THEO this cultural icon all the way
(12:22):
to his current work the resident is directing that Grammy
nominated music.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
It really resilient and varied career.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
And the main point, the most crucial takeaway, he is
very much alive. He's still contributing, still creating.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Absolutely and we've seen how those false searches Malcolm Jamal
Warner death. They really highlight the power of these rumors,
fueled by clickbait, maybe by psychology, maybe even confusion with
real sad events like Michelle Thomas passing away. And reflecting
on all this his ongoing career versus these persistent false rumors,
(12:55):
it does raise a bigger question, I think for you,
for all of us listening well in this age of
just instant information algorithms pushing stuff at us constantly. How
do we get better at telling fact from fiction, How
do we cultivate those critical thinking skills, and maybe what
responsibility do we have as people who consume and sometimes
share information to slow down the spread of this unverified stuff,
(13:18):
whether it's about a public figure or really about anyone.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Hm hmm. That's definitely something to think about as you
go about your day. This has been the deep dive
we hope we've given you plenty to mole over.