That changed when the messages kept coming. At that point, Norris said, Norris said the messages felt too persistent to ignore., even if the evidence in front of him was fairly convincing.
“And then more and more came in, and for a split second in my head, I’m thinking: ‘Well, it can’t be me because I’m eating an omelette, and I’m still very much here, kicking about, you know what I’m saying?’”
A practical test, if not a medical one.
The confusion appears to involve another Bobby Norris
Norris said he believed the mix-up was caused by the death of another person with the same name. He was careful to acknowledge that, while the confusion had been bizarre for him, for another family, it was a real loss.
He offered condolences to the man’s loved ones and thanked people who had contacted him out of concern.
Describing the experience as “a mad couple of days in the twilight zone,” Norris signed off by reassuring fans that he was fine. His Instagram caption kept the tone suitably direct: “Still here with my omelette.. 🍳 (Just to clear up any confusion..)”
The video appeared to have been filmed from his sofa, with Norris wearing a relaxed open shirt. It was not exactly a crisis press conference, which somehow made the whole thing even more surreal.
Fans responded with relief and sympathy
The comments under Norris’s post quickly filled with relief, support and sympathy for the family of the other Bobby Norris.
Lisa Sharman called it a “happy and sad moment” and sent her “condolences to the family of the deceased.”
Tracie Dack described the situation as “a frightening thing,” adding: “So sorry as you say for the other Bobby Norris and his family and friends. Glad you’re alive and kicking hun and enjoying your omelette. Much love.”
Another commenter, Victoria, wrote: “That omelette must have tasted divine after that Bob, condolences to the other family.”
The response caught the strange split in the moment. Norris was safe and joking about breakfast, but the mistaken reports still pointed back to someone else’s grief.
Norris has been open about online abuse and public judgment
The incident comes after a year in which Norris has continued to speak plainly about public scrutiny. Earlier in 2026, he shared videos showing his swollen face after undergoing facelift surgery, and he was open about both the procedures and the criticism that followed.
During an appearance on ITV’s This Morning in April, presenter Ben Shephard asked why Norris felt he needed a facelift at 39. Norris replied: “Do what makes you feel better.”
That answer fits with the way he has often handled attention around his personal life: direct, unfussy, and not especially interested in pretending the internet is a gentle place.
Norris has campaigned against online hate and has repeatedly spoken about abuse he has experienced himself. This latest episode was not exactly typical trolling, if his explanation is right, but it still shows how quickly confusion online can become personal.
The Only Way Is Essex is available to watch on ITVX.
