According to The Associated Press, hackers broke into Spears’ and DeGeneres’ Twitpic accounts and sent out fake messages, including one that said Britney was dead.

“Britney has passed today,” one of the fake messages said. “It is a sad day for everyone. More news to come.”

Twitpic, a Web-based messaging system that is not owned by Twitter, allows users of the micro-blogging site to share photos. Twitpic service shut down briefly on Sunday after discovering what the Charleston, South Carolina-based company called a “vulnerability” in its mobile posting service. In a note to users, Twitpic asks users to disregard the message about Spears’ alleged death and promised that the company was “implementing a fix immediately.”

The image on Spears’ Twitpic account and the associated post have been deleted, and Brit’s staff posted a message reassuring fans that she is alive and well.