Olivia Newton-John’s family breaks silence over death reports

Following reports on Wednesday that Grease star Olivia Newton-John only had weeks to live after battling cancer, her family has spoken out about the star’s health.

It all began when website Radar Online claimed the 70-year-old’s body was shutting down. Shortly after, an array of other news outlets claimed sources close to the iconic entertainer told them Olivia had just weeks and not months to live.

Olivia’s own niece Tottie Goldsmith broke her silence on Facebook on Wednesday evening. Sharing a photograph of herself with Olivia, Tottie explained that reports of her aunt dying weren’t true.

“Just giving you the heads up that Livvy is in good health, so let’s leave that pathetic rumor [sic] where it belongs,” she wrote.

The star also spoke exclusively to 7 News on Wednesday evening. Tottie had Olivia’s permission to speak to the news outlet.

“You can rest assured she is going nowhere and in really good health,” she told 7 News. “A sick rumour.”

The report said that while the singer is battling cancer, she is using a mix of treatments including radiation, natural remedies and cannabis oil.

Olivia Newton-John's niece Tottie Goldsmith says the singer is "in really good health", despite recent reports she only had weeks to live. #TheLatest #7News https://t.co/j1LOFbYRi7

— 7NEWS Gold Coast (@7NewsGoldCoast) January 2, 2019

Tottie’s statement comes after Olivia’s American representative Michael Caprio denied is client had just weeks to live. Speaking exclusively to News.com.au, Caprio said reports of Olivia’s alleged pending death were “hilarious”.

Read more: Olivia Newton-John’s manager breaks silence following reports star is dying

“No she has not,” Caprio told news.com.au. “You might want to get better sources versus reading tabloids.”

Meanwhile, other sources told the publication Olivia “is perfectly well and had enjoyed the Christmas and New Year period”.

Fans had flooded social media with concern after the initial reports started doing the rounds.

One person wrote: “It’s being reported that #OliviaNewtonJohn is hanging in the balance That some of her bodily functions are shutting down due to stage 4 cancer! Says she refuses to die in hospital but at home. She goes on to say that she refuses to die till she sees her daughter say I do!”

https://twitter.com/ParziFly/status/1079098775115784192

Another message read: “Olivia Newton John needs our prayers America! She’s battling stage 4 breast cancer and is very ill.”

Olivia Newton John needs our prayers America! She's battling stage 4 breast cancer and is very ill. #prayersforolivianewtonjohn #OliviaNewtonJohn pic.twitter.com/nCS6AMcgRT

— Jon McLain (@JonBoi78) January 1, 2019

A further comment said: “You would, we all would hope these alleged Olivia Newton-John ‘health fears’ can be actually substantiated. ONJ is one of the most gentle, beautiful & soulful humans in the world. Sending love to a genuine ‘icon’ – & that word isn’t used lightly. Love her.”

You would, we all would hope these alleged Olivia Newton-John ‘health fears’ can be actually substantiated. ONJ is one of the most gentle, beautiful & soulful humans in the world. Sending love to a genuine ‘icon’ – & that word isn’t used lightly.
Love her. 😘❤️🙏🏻 @olivianj pic.twitter.com/AvDjRheUaK

— Melissa Hoyer (@melissahoyer) January 2, 2019

The ‘Hopelessly Devoted to You’ singer was originally diagnosed with cancer in 1992 but in an interview with Sunday Night last year, confirmed she was battling cancer again. It was her third cancer diagnosis, after keeping her second cancer battle secret from the public.

Read more: Olivia Newton-John reveals worst thing people can say after cancer diagnosis

Olivia had discovered the tumour in her right shoulder after she was involved in a car accident, around the time her sister Rona died from an aggressive form of brain cancer in 2013.

When she first felt the lump in her shoulder shortly after, she assumed it was a result of the seatbelt slamming in to her during the crash. Sadly, it was actually the breast cancer she had beaten two decades before returning.

She insisted on the show that she wanted to keep this second diagnosis secret, as it felt personal after sharing her first battle so widely with the public years before.

“I thought ‘I don’t really need to share this, it’s my life and something I wanted to keep to myself’,” she told reporter Alex Cullen.

Asked if she’s scared, she said: “No, I don’t go there.” She added: “I believe I will win over it, that’s my goal.”

Have you been following this story? Are you a fan of Olivia Newton-John?