WorldNetDaily did what it could to downplay seriousness of Chuck Norris’ hospital trip in a March 19 article by Bob Unruh:
It took only a few brief seconds after word emerged that film and television star Chuck Norris, hero of “Walker, Texas Ranger” and a multitude of action stories, was hospitalized but in good spirits in Hawaii for the Chuck Norris facts legend to appear.
“The bacteria that hit Chuck Norris is going to exit his body, profusely apologize and immediately make a huge money donation to the hospital,” said one.
Norris, a multi-time martial arts champion who wrote hundreds of columns that appeared on WorldNetDaily, explaining his life values, talking about those people like Ronald Reagan that he knew and more, reportedly was admitted to a hospital there following a “sudden medical emergency.”
The Daily Mail said the 86-year-old was on Kauai and information about the emergency had not been released but he was reported in “good spirits.”
He apparently was on the island for training.
He had just celebrated his 86th birthday, on March 10, and shared a video of himself in a training session.
Those “good spirits” WND claimed existed apparently didn’t do much good, because Norris died fairily quickly. The next day, WND put out an anonymously written obituary which stated in part:
On his birthday, he said, “I’m 86 today! Nothing like some playful action on a sunny day to make you feel young. I’m grateful for another year, good health, and the chance to keep doing what I love.”
“Thank you all for being the best fans in the world. Your support through the years has meant more to me than you’ll ever know. God Bless, Chuck Norris.”
The article also cribbed from Unruh’s previous article hyping that Norris “wrote hundreds of columns that appeared on WorldNetDaily.” The anonymous writer didn’t mention the fact that those columns were apparently ghostwritten by his pastor Todd DuBord. He also held some questionable right-wing views, including a bromance with recently ousted authoritarian leader Viktor Orban, spreading dubious conspiracy theories and using his column for embarrassing self-promotion of himself and the companies for which he served as a paid spokesman.
Unruh returned with a March 21 article trying to spin Norris’ death:
He, of course, personified the ultimate in tough guys on television, in film, and he spawned an entire industry of Chuck Norris Facts.
But one participant pointed out that there was once thing more important to Norris than memes, and his image: his faith.
“The internet will spend the next 72 hours posting roundhouse kick memes,” the poster said. “Nobody’s going to talk about the thing that mattered most to him. He was a Christian.”
Apparently, Norris’ penchant for hiring others to write his columns did not disqualify him from being a Christian. Needless to say, Unruh refused to mention that at all.