Doctored image does not show Canadian singer Celine Dion in hospital

This article is more than two years old.
Published on May 5, 2023 at 08:49
2 min read
By AFP Thailand

A doctored image of a woman in a hospital bed has surfaced in social media posts that falsely claim it shows Canadian singer Celine Dion after she announced she was suffering from a rare neurological disorder. However, the original photo -- which has circulated online since 2014 -- shows an elderly woman who was mistreated by family members. AFP found no official reports the star had been admitted to hospital, as of May 5, 2023.

The doctored photo was shared on Facebook on April 24 alongside a genuine photo of the pop diva (archived link).

"I think everyone knows that Celine Dion is a world famous singer well known for her Titanic theme song," reads the lengthy Burmese-language post in part.

"She is now suffering from stiff-person syndrome."

A screenshot of a misleading Facebook post taken on May 2, 2023.

Various Facebook posts shared the doctored photo, including here, here and here.

It was also shared in a YouTube video posted on February 13, which has racked up more than two million views.

"So sorry. I feel bad after seeing her on the bed," one person commented.

"She hid her health problem and postponed musical tours. Now I see that she is in a hospital bed," another wrote.

It is the latest hoax targeting the "My Heart Will Go On" singer since she announced in December she was suffering from stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that is affecting her singing (archived link).

False posts have previously purported to show Dion using a wheelchair or even on her deathbed.

Doctored photo

A reverse image search on Google found the original photo in an article from 2014 about an elderly woman who was ill-treated by her daughter and son-in-law (archived link).

"Senior looked like 'living skeleton,' trial told," reads the headline of the Toronto Sun's report from October 20, 2014.

Viola Simonds, 76, was found neglected in a darkened, filthy room at her daughter's house in May 2011, it said.

Below is a screenshot comparison between the doctored photo (left) and the Toronto Sun's photo (right):

Screenshot comparison between the doctored photo (left) and the Toronto Sun's photo (right)

Canadian broadcaster CTV reported in January 2015 that Simond's daughter and son-in-law were sentenced to jail for failing to care for her (archived link).

AFP found no official reports about Dion being admitted to hospital, as of May 5, 2023.

Is there content that you would like AFP to fact-check? Get in touch.

E-mail