Singer Celine Dion is at the center of controversy following allegations that her performance during the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony was pre-recorded.
The claims, published by the French newspaper Libération on October 11, emerged just a day after the release of Dion’s single “Hymne à l’amour – Live from the Olympic Games Paris 2024” on streaming platforms.
The song, originally made famous by French icon Édith Piaf, marked Dion’s return to the stage after a three-year hiatus caused by major health issues, including her battle with stiff person syndrome.
According to Libération, several music industry professionals alleged that Dion’s show-stopping performance atop the Eiffel Tower was “without a shadow of a doubt” pre-recorded.
Composer and performer Etienne Guéreau told the publication, “What we heard on TV was a corrected playback.” Another source, a sound engineer who spoke on the condition of anonymity, insisted, “It was 100% playback, you can hear it from the first notes.”
The allegations have sparked a mixed reaction among the singer’s fans, many of whom took to social media to defend the Grammy-winning artist. “You don’t have more important information to repeat?” one supporter wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“What is this need to tarnish, to denigrate? We don’t care! You won’t take away the emotion we felt at that moment. Celine Dion’s vocal performance is admirable regardless.”
Some fans expressed indifference over whether the performance was live or pre-recorded, praising Dion for her emotional delivery.
“Who cares — she was great either way,” one fan commented. Others pointed to her recent health struggles as a valid reason for potentially using a pre-recorded track. “She’s sick. Let her lip sync,” another supporter wrote.
The accusations of lip-syncing arose amid a backdrop of significant health challenges for the 56-year-old singer.
In 2021, Dion stepped away from her Las Vegas residency to focus on her well-being after being diagnosed with stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that causes muscle rigidity and spasms.
Her Paris performance, therefore, marked a significant comeback, and many viewers noted that she appeared to be holding back tears as she sang, adding to the emotional weight of the moment.
For the Olympics performance, Dion wore a stunning high-neck gown adorned with crystals and featuring long sleeves stitched with a cape and beaded tassels.
Positioned at the top of the Eiffel Tower, she closed the opening ceremony with “Hymne à l’amour,” leaving the audience awestruck.
While some reports suggested that she was paid $2 million for the appearance, an official representative for the Paris 2024 Olympics refuted these claims, stating, “Contrary to some media reports, the performers at the Paris 2024 Games ceremonies will not receive a fee for their performance.”
As of now, Dion has not addressed the controversy, leaving fans and critics alike waiting for her response. Despite the claims, her Paris performance is being hailed by many as a triumphant return for the singer amid her ongoing health struggles.
