How Céline Dion found herself in the middle of a Canadiens and Golden Knights photo 'controversy'
A ridiculous, weird and funny faux controversy.
Before the Montreal Canadiens eliminated the Vegas Golden Knights with a 3-2 overtime win in Game 6 Thursday night, Céline Dion — a Quebec native and one of their most famous fans — had to clarify exactly where her allegiance lies.
Because Canadiens fans were furious this week (in a mostly tongue-in-cheek way).
Tuesday before Game 5 in Las Vegas, an image of Dion in a black jersey and a black helmet with “Vegas” written on it appeared on the video board at T-Mobile Arena.
The superstar Grammy Award winner — who’s had multiple, years-long residencies performing in Las Vegas for the last two decades — looked intense and clearly like a Golden Knights fan, which irked Habs fans everywhere.
Thought she’d be a Habs fan! pic.twitter.com/otq4u7N2fl
— Chris Cuthbert (@CCpxpSN) June 23, 2021
Obviously, it gives off the impression that she switched teams and wanted Vegas to win.
The Montreal Gazette even labeled her a traitor, while CBC described the situation as “scandalous.”
Céline Dion, a traitor, poses in Vegas Golden Knights attire https://t.co/zJNdBD5qZy pic.twitter.com/Ag30mMi9j1
— Montreal Gazette (@mtlgazette) June 23, 2021
This pre-game image caused such a faux controversy that Dion ended up addressing the situation on Twitter. Although she didn’t explicitly say “Go Habs” or anything similar, she said she had nothing to do with the image.
Bonne Saint-Jean-Baptiste à toutes les Québecoises et à tous les Québécois. Je vous embrasse et vous souhaite une bonne fête nationale !
En passant, je n’ai rien à voir avec cette photo…. Et vous savez de quelle photo je parle !– Céline xx…
— Celine Dion (@celinedion) June 24, 2021
After wishing her followers a Happy Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, Dion wrote:
“By the way, I have nothing to do with this photo…. And you know what photo I’m talking about!
Makes sense because the photo appears to have been edited, and Montreal fans seemed relieved. And now their team is playing in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1993.
Vegas really tried to do Celine dirty like that
pic.twitter.com/T0R7ESEcKY
— Hockey Night in Canada (@hockeynight) June 23, 2021
Our queen would never abandon us
https://t.co/6l4zGl7ua9
— Alyssa (@alyegitz) June 24, 2021
les vraies couleurs de céline pic.twitter.com/34Jnyccoan
— véro // ✿ (@vlovesemma) June 24, 2021
On aime mieux Ces Images , pour etre honnête. On avait pas de doute.
Joyeux fête Nationale a vous oussi, Céline.
pic.twitter.com/A23WIXXFub
— Matt (@MatthevvBritton) June 24, 2021
#weknow #GoHabsGo https://t.co/XhY6hJffkq
— nunugabscloud (@nunugabscloud) June 25, 2021
bonne St-Jean Go Habs Go ! pic.twitter.com/piUIT54LCr
— JFS (@JeanFranoisSau1) June 24, 2021
Souvenir #LaFureur en 2002.
#GoHabsGo https://t.co/D7IZeMhz4D pic.twitter.com/v5V62zM1JB
— Dave Carignan (@evad_16) June 25, 2021