William Shatner has reassured fans that his recent shoulder surgery was a routine procedure, after reports exaggerated his injuries following a horse riding accident. The 94-year-old Star Trek legend took to Instagram on Thursday to set the record straight, dismissing claims that he had shattered his shoulder.
“So I understand that tabloids say my shoulder was shattered. Dramatic. Colorful. Completely untrue,” he wrote. “It was a routine procedure. I’m so well that tomorrow I’ll be in Cleveland at a convention.” He previously revealed the accident occurred during an equestrian event, saying he was “sent flying” from his horse and “wrecked” his shoulder.
Shatner had discussed the upcoming operation at the Saturn Awards on 8 March, describing it as a “new type of shoulder operation called a reverse something or other”. He quipped that he would come out “pain-free” after the procedure. The surgery took place on Wednesday, and he has already returned to public engagements.
This is not the first health scare for the actor. In September 2024, he was hospitalised due to low blood sugar, which he later joked about on social media. He has also been open about his battle with stage 4 melanoma in 2024, for which he received treatment and was told he had five months to live if it failed.
Shatner, best known for playing Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek series, continues to stay active and attend conventions despite his age. He urged fans not to trust tabloid reports, saying, “Remember that tabloids don't let facts get in the way of a good headline.”
