If you’ve been keeping tabs on Celine Dion of late, you’ve probably noticed the singer has undergone a reinvention as a high-fashion It-girl.
Aside from preparing for her ‘Courage’ World Tour, the songstress has become a regular fixture at Couture Fashion Week in Paris, donning an array of enviable outfits by Valentino, Iris van Herpen, and Alexandre Vauthier.
So, what does this have to do with anything? Well, part of the reason behind Dion’s high-fashion reinvention is her close friend, Pepe Muñoz. After Dion’s longtime husband, René Angélil, passed away from cancer in January 2016, Dion has become increasingly close with the handsome Spanish illustrator, who seems to be just as much of a fashion fanatic as she is.
After being photographed with Muñoz multiple times (often attending fashion shows in Paris), Dion told Extra in April 2019 that Muñoz is gay, instantly debunking rumours of a potential romance. But even though they’re not a couple, that hasn’t stopped Muñoz from becoming one of Dion’s closest allies and aides, with the singer regularly expressing her love and admiration for him.
However, in July 2019, a report surfaced alleging that Muñoz, among other things, has alienated and isolated Dion from the rest of her ‘inner circle’—AKA, the singer’s closest friends, stylists, and managers. An unnamed source told Page Six: “Pepe is like [Dion’s] boy toy who is really trying to take over. He’s isolating her and people are feeling it.”
Sources alleging to be close to Dion’s ‘inner circle’ told Page Six that Muñoz orchestrated the departure of Dion’s ex-stylist, Law Roach (who’s also famous for his work with Zendaya), and has cut down her team to only a handful of close confidantes—allegedly including a new stylist, a hairdresser, and Muñoz himself.
Though many celebrities are quick to let these kinds of rumours slide, Dion decided to make an unlikely move and address the purported drama head-on. On August 1, 2019, Dion shared a statement on Instagram apparently written by her true ‘inner circle’, apologising to Muñoz for the “untruthful” rumours.
The post read: “Dear Pepe, as the real members of Celine’s ‘inner circle’, we are saddened and disappointed by an untruthful story that surfaced in the media on Monday, quoting multiple sources who claim they are part of the inner circle and that you have too much influence over Celine, and that you are isolating her.
“These ‘sources’ have nothing better to do than to spread untrue gossip. Don’t let it get you down… and keep up the great work. We love you!” The post then featured a sign-off from who we assume are Dion’s inner circle.
While the ‘sources’ who initially shared the story haven’t come forward (and likely never will), we’ll consider this one de-bunked.
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