Somebody thought it would be in good taste to kill Frankie off just in time for April Fools Day, hardy har har. Essence.com stole Jamie Foster Brown’s thunder and hit Neffe up to comment on the harsh hoax.

ESSENCE.COM: A rumor began that you mother Frankie had passed away. Is that true?

NEFFE: No. I haven’t the slightest idea where the rumor began, but Wendy Williams reported on her radio show that my mother had been in a car accident and died. I was at home in Atlanta and had just dropped my mom off the night before, so I knew it wasn’t true. Even my mom said, “Why would someone say that? I don’t know where Wendy got her information, but my mom’s probably at home sleeping right now. We spoke and she’s fine.

ESSENCE.COM: Wow, how do you cope with all this gossip?

NEFFE: We take the good with the bad. I’ve been dealing with it probably more than my mom; like the rumor that I was pregnant again, which I am not. I don’t make up rumors because it’s putting out bad karma. My mom doesn’t even want to leave the house now until this passes over. You have to take it for what it’s worth, pray and just deal with it.

ESSENCE.COM: The blogosphere loves your mom Frankie and every chance they get they are documenting her and criticizing her actions. Do you ever try to talk to your mom about her actions or does she just shut you down and let you know she’s grown?

NEFFE: Most definitely, I’ve talked to her about her behavior and did have those concerns and questions, but she doesn’t really care. She tells me that she’s grown and my mother. I just wish sometimes she’d remember that she’s a grandmother so she can learn to sit down and slow down, then I wouldn’t have nothing to say to her. Eventually, she’ll slow down and figure it out.