The editors at People magazine had been looking at Betty White for months. Readers always seemed to like her self-deprecating, slightly naughty observations as she neared her 100th birthday. Ms. White was the toast of social media in recent years.
Wendy Naugle, People's deputy editor, said that by mid-December, Liz and Ms. White were working on the piece, with Ms. Jackson responding to questions via email. The issue was closed on December 23. On Wednesday, it hit newsstands and began arriving in subscriber mailboxes on Friday.
Next to a glossy photograph of Ms. White, the People trumpets said: "Betty White Turns 100!"
Ms. White passed away on Friday. She was 99 years old.
People began to trend as fans celebrated Ms. White's performances on "The Golden Girls" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." Some fans blamed the magazine for jinxing Ms. White. In addition to the weekly issue of People, she was also marked with a special issue dedicated to her seven-decade career.
Others were happy that Ms. White had seemed to have pulled off one last laugh.
The cover of People was turned into a Hall of Fame by Dan Wakeford when he got the news that Ms. White had died. The Chicago Daily Tribune made a mistake in 1948 by announcing that Dewey defeated Truman.
Adding insult to injury, a competing celebrity news outlet broke the news of Ms. White's death, citing anonymous law enforcement sources.
Jeff Witjas, her agent, was the one who helped arrange the interview. Even though Betty was about to be 100, Mr. Witjas thought she would live forever. She loved the animal world so much that I will miss her.
Mr. Wakeford's comment was posted on the account. He said that they were sad by the news of Betty White's passing. She chose to work with People to celebrate her life and career.
Ms. Naugle said she and other staffers were in shock. She noted that Ms. White had shared an image of her 100th-birthday cover with her 1.3 million followers. The post said that People Magazine was celebrating with him.
It was Ms. White's last post. She promoted a documentary called "Betty White: 100 Years Young" in December. I am going to the big screen for my birthday. Ms. White had said that.
Steve Boettcher and Mike Trinklein said the film will come out on time. They said thatBetty was the luckiest broad on two feet to have had a career as long as she did. We were the lucky ones to have had her.
Ms. Naugle looked on the bright side when asked to reconcile the sadness of Ms. White's death with the whoops of the cover. She said that fans would be touched to know that she was in good spirits until the end.
Ms. White told People that her longevity could be attributed to her diet. She said she tries to avoid anything green. I think it is working.
