Maybe not exacly about Axl, at least the first part but still fits somehow for me. Here's an oldie.
In Poland back in mid-1990s we were informed via some rock magazine that Izzy Stradlin died of a heroin overdose. My friend in highschool belived and was sure 100% that reunion of AFD lineup (known back then as the "original gnr") is impossible because of the "fact" that Izzy is dead. And no internet around to deal with that shit fast
Or classic one, that diva Axl will not play for "polish and jews", ever (they didn't get what "polished jews" is all about, we didn't have any gnr gig until June 2006 in Warsaw, so that bullshit fits altogether somehow). That's classic Axl story that some polish people still belive in. Really.