The Silent Children

A widely circulated conspiracy theory falsely claimed that celebrities including Avicii, Chester Bennington, Chris Cornell, and Anthony Bourdain were involved in The Silent Children and were killed for attempting to expose child sexual abuse. This claim has been thoroughly debunked. The documentary project was originally developed by Lisa Beane and LeRoi Moore. Development stalled around 2015 due to funding issues, and the project was ultimately shelved in 2017 when the production company dissolved. A representative for the project confirmed that none of the celebrities named in the conspiracy theory were ever involved in any capacity. The deaths of Avicii (April 2018), Chester Bennington (July 2017), Chris Cornell (May 2017), and Anthony Bourdain (June 2018) were all officially ruled suicides following investigations, with no credible evidence of foul play. Statements from their families and close associates have also referenced their struggles with mental health.