Celine Dion accused of 'faking' Olympics performance with 'pre-recorded track' as fans rally around star

12 October 2024, 01:27

A row has broken out over whether Celine Dion's Olympic opening ceremony performance was pre-recorded or not.
A row has broken out over whether Celine Dion's Olympic opening ceremony performance was pre-recorded or not. Picture: Alamy/Getty

By Emma Soteriou

Celine Dion touched millions with her 'live' performance at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony in July - but is now being accused of instead using a pre-recorded version of her song.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The singer performed Hymne à L'amour (Hymn to Love) in front of the Eiffel Tower, which was hailed by organisers and fans as a highlight of the ceremony.

However, it has now been claimed that the world did not hear Dion's voice but instead a pre-recorded studio version that had been tweaked to improve her pitch.

The debate was sparked after several music industry experts told the Libération newspaper that the performance was "without a shadow of a doubt" pre-recorded.

Performer Etienne Guéreau told the paper: "What we heard on TV was a corrected playback."

An anonymous sound engineer said: "It was 100% playback, you can hear it from the first notes."

Representatives for the Paris 2024 organisers refused to answer questions on the controversy, the paper said.

Read more: Celine Dion kicks off Paris Olympics in rain-drenched opening ceremony after France rocked by rail arson attacks

Read more: Céline Dion shares harrowing footage of ten minute 'crisis' seizure following Stiff Person's Syndrome diagnosis

Furious fans were quick to back the singer on social media following the claims.

One person said: "Honestly, a controversy for nothing. In addition to knowing her state of health. Wasn't the moment magical!!!! Of course it was, even I don't particularly listen to Celine Dion it was the strongest and most wonderful moment of the opening of the games. She was a goddess."

Another person said: "Celine has health problems, playback or not it's a pleasure to see her on stage."

A third person added: "Wow, personally I don't care! It was a great moment in any case!"

Celine Dion performing on the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Celine Dion performing on the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Picture: Getty

After the ceremony, musical director Victor Le Masne was asked if her voice had been recorded.

"No," he said, according to the Times. "We prepared for that possibility but she really did sing."

Thomas Jolly, the ceremony director, told France Television at the time: "No, it was without playback. The voice was there."

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said in August: "This performance marks the first time that Celine Dion has sung live since her diagnosis."

The star was diagnosed with Stiff Person's Syndrome in 2022, a rare autoimmune condition and neurological disorder which causes uncontrollable body spasms that leave you immobile.

She opened up about her struggle with the illness in a feature-length documentary called I Am: Celine Dion.

Representatives for Celine Dion have been contacted for comment.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Abdirahman Ibrahim has been convicted of murder after driving into the back of Liam Jones

Killer driver mows down e-bike rider to 'teach him lesson' for doing wheelies

The Vatican says Pope Francis is being treated for 'bilateral pneumonia'

New scans show Pope Francis has pneumonia in both lungs but Vatican says he remains ‘in good spirits’

Meghan

Meghan Markle could face 'legal action' from Spanish town as her new luxury brand logo faces resemblance to coat of arms

The father of murdered schoolgirl Sara Sharif is reportedly being protected by a 'Muslim gang'

Sara Sharif's father protected by 'Muslim gang' in jail after being attacked with jagged tuna lid

Zhenhao Zou is accused of raping three women in London and 7 in China, whilst they were unconscious

PhD student 'discussed rape role-play' with alleged victim, trial hears

Exclusive
Senior Tories including Suella Braverman and Michael Gove have criticised the judge's comments

Senior Tories blast 'out of touch' judge for 'ludicrous attack' on Starmer’s migrant remarks

Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, died in an airstrike, Hamas said

Bodies of youngest Israeli hostage Kfir Bibas and his brother and mother to be handed over as family ‘in turmoil’

Lisa Smith, 43, was with a female friend when she was killed outside the Three Horseshoes pub in Knockholt, Kent

Man suspected of fatally shooting wife outside pub on Valentine's Day rang friend and said 'she's dead'

Carry On legend Julian Holloway dies aged 80

Carry On legend Julian Holloway dies aged 80 after 'brief illness' as tributes pour in

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned 'any appearance by armed forces under some other flag' in Ukraine would be 'completely unacceptable', in a dig at a peace plan floated by Keir Starmer.

Keir Starmer’s Ukraine peacekeeping plan ‘completely unacceptable’, Russia tells US in Saudi Arabia talks

Rita Lambourne, 58, was “fatally wounded” at her home in Bayencourt South, Bexhill

Man charged with axe murder of woman in own home

Lydia Mugambe is accused of taking 'advantage of her status'

UN judge ‘trafficked woman to UK to be her slave'

Anonymous posters have appeared in Hampstead Heath, a park in north London, calling for gay men to stop using the park for sex.

'Take back Hampstead Heath', dog walkers urged as posters appear calling for men to stop using park for sex

Gavin Nicholls was tackled to the ground by a plain-clothed officer outside the Co-op in Barnet

Moment serial shoplifter is tackled off e-scooter by police as he flees store in north London

The plane, which was carrying 80 people, slid down onto the icy runway at Toronto Pearson International Airport before bursting into flames

Horrifying video shows moment Delta plane crashes on tarmac and bursts into flames at Toronto airport

Healey's comments came following Russia-US Peake talks in Saudi Arabia.

UK facing 'new era of threat' from Russia, Defence Secretary says as he unveils ‘biggest military shake up in 50 years’