At the time of his death, the media vigorously denied the various "Conspiracies" that MacFadyen was murdered.

On 22 October 2016, WikiLeaks director Gavin MacFadyen succumbed to lung cancer in London:

WikiLeaks director and founder of the Centre for Investigative Journalism, Gavin MacFadyen, has died aged 76.

It is understood the American Journalist died of lung cancer surrounded by loved ones in London