‘Disrespectful’: Celine Dion fans outraged by Taylor Swift snub
Celine Dion devotees have accused Taylor Swift of ‘snubbing’ the Canadian pop star in accepting her trophy for Album of the Year at The Grammy Awards.
Those who exist in a certain, pop-culture-obsessed part of the internet will have opened up X this morning and found themselves caught in the crossfire of conflict between Celine Dion and Taylor Swift fans.
Dion, the Canadian pop star who retreated from the public eye in 2022 after announcing she has a rare neurological condition called stiff person syndrome, which led to her cancelling a scheduled world tour, surprised Grammy viewers when she appeared to present the final major award of the evening.
Walking on stage to ‘The Power of Love,’ the entire crowd stood for a standing ovation. “When I say that I’m happy to be here, I really mean it from my heart,” she said, before presenting the award for Album of the Year to Swift for Midnights.
This was a milestone win for Swift, who became the first-ever artist in the 66-year history of the prize to win the award four times — breaking the tie she held with Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, and Paul Simon.
The poignant moment was shattered for some Dion devotees after Swift appeared to snub Dion while accepting her win.
As Swift ascended the stage, she ecstatically hugged producer Jack Antonoff, her friend and fellow Grammy nominee Lana Del Rey, and sound engineer Laura Sisk. While taking the trophy from Dion, Swift failed to make eye contact with the star, instead turning to face her collaborators as she mouthed surprise over her win.
While some fans on X argued that Swift was likely overwhelmed by her historic win, and didn’t mean the snub “in a cruel way,” others took umbrage with her performance, slamming her for being “disrespectful.”
“Taylor Swift receives her Grammy from the GOAT Celine Dion and she doesn’t even make eye contact with her. Disrespectful,” user @Knesix wrote on X.
“Taylor not even acknowledging Celine Dion is not sitting right with my spirit. Girl, that is CELINE DION,” user @blackboywrites.
not trying to be hater but being handed a Grammy by Celine Dion in her very triumphant first public appearance in a long time and barely making eye contact insane
— adam (@adamjmoussa) February 5, 2024
My biggest disappointment of the Grammys was Taylor Swift winning Album of the year and hugging all of her people but taking the trophy from Celine Dion as if she was the hat-check girl, and not seeming to realize how very amazing it was that Celine was standing there at all.
— Beverley Smith (@BevSmithWrites) February 5, 2024
I don’t think Taylor meant it in a cruel way, but yes, it’s awkward and not a good look for her. Celine is indeed Queen. https://t.co/Jscro7KH5Tpic.twitter.com/CHbWT6PiFr
— Alyssa Christian â“‹ (@veganmoviesnob) February 5, 2024
Taylor Swift receives her Grammy from the GOAT Celine Dion and she doesn't even make eye contact with her.
— Jesús Enrique Rosas - The Body Language Guy (@Knesix) February 5, 2024
Disrespectful. pic.twitter.com/fph6h8lpcQ
Other fans compared Swift’s display to that of British pop star Adele, who, in winning her Grammy for Song of the Year from Dion 2017, accepted the trophy on bended knee.
Adele “bending the knee†to Celine Dion at the 2017 #GRAMMYSpic.twitter.com/sc9Lkmi2x9
— THE ADELE MUSEUM | 🆠(@AdeleMuseum) February 5, 2024
Whatever feud was fabricated by the fans forensically investigating the acceptance speech footage was quickly shut down. Shortly after the final award for the evening was handed out, Swift and Dion were captured embracing each other in a backstage photo op.
Earlier in the evening, Swift, who will touch down in Australia later this month for her hotly-anticipated Eras Tour, used her acceptance speech for best pop vocal album to announce that she would be releasing her new album, The Tortured Poets Department, on April 19.
“I know that the way that the Recording Academy voted is a direct reflection of the passion of the fans, so I want to say thank you to the fans by telling you a secret that I’ve been keeping from you for the last two years,” Swift said. “Which is that my brand-new album comes out April 19. It’s called ‘The Tortured Poets Department.’”
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