How like an artist who defied norms and bent rules to cause confusion even in his death.
As his official Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts posted about his death, the news was quickly dismissed as a hoax, before, equally quickly, being confirmed.
When a celebrity dies, like Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister did just a few weeks ago, there is usually a flurry of tweets and Facebook posts. Then the sarcasm sets in, and the fans are left to publicly mourn, while others quickly go on about their lives.
Not Bowie. For hours, social networks were all about him, as people posted their tributes, their grief, and their memories.
Everyone from celebrities to astronauts to politicians shared a thought.
The world's media pulled out their obituaries.
And in amongst it all, memories and reflections.
Perhaps the last word should go to this tweet - from the morning before the announcement of Bowie's death.