It ought to have been effortless to secure a tender moment at the 2024 Grammys between two adored divas—Taylor Swift and Celine Dion. However, the audience was divided regarding the concluding moment of the evening.
Swift rushed onto the stage with several of her collaborators, including producer Jack Antonoff and featured artist Lana Del Rey, upon surprise presenter Dion’s declaration that she had won Album of the Year. They were the “Karma” singer. However, upon receiving the award from the Canadian performer, Swift accepted it without addressing Dion. Instead, she exchanged looks of surprise and astonishment with her team.
A deliberate and disrespectful snub was perceived by some observers of Swift’s acceptance of the award without acknowledging Dion.
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Swift was accused by Canadian journalist Beverly Smith of “appropriating the trophy from Celine Dion as if she were the hat-check girl, and failing to recognize the astounding fact that Celine was standing there at all.”
Sunday Night Was a Rare Public Appearance for Dion
Dion made an uncommon public appearance on Sunday night. In late 2022, she initially disclosed that stiff person syndrome, a neurological disorder characterized by muscle rigidity and spasms, was affecting “every aspect” of her life, including “occasional walking difficulties and inability to utilize vocal cords as I normally do.”
Dion canceled prospective tour dates last year due to worsening symptoms; a source close to the singer told CNN that it was highly unlikely that she would embark on another tour.
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Swift supporters swooped in after the Grammys to defend their idol, contending that she was merely overcome with the momentous occasion of becoming the first artist to win four Album of the Year awards and instead decided to split the honor with the producers and performers who contributed to its realization. Swift’s admirers also brought evidence, which were photographs of her and Dion embracing at Grammys throughout the years, including backstage on a Sunday.
Dion’s public homecoming came only days after the 55-year-old superstar announced the release of her new documentary, I Am: Céline Dion, which will be available on Amazon Prime Video. The film, directed by Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Irene Taylor, will provide audiences with an intimate glimpse at her life after being diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome.