Fact Check

Celine Dion Death Hoax

The Canadian pop star is not only not dead, but she's taking part in her 2019 ’Courage World Tour.'

Published Oct. 22, 2013

 (Shutterstock)
Image Via Shutterstock
Claim:
Singer Celine Dion has been killed in a car crash.

In December 2019, a Celine Dion death hoax was spread on social media in the form of the caption “CELINE DION DIES IN AMERICAN HOSPITAL AFTER LONG SICKNESS” attached to a post with an image of the singer appearing gaunt and ill:

That post was just another form of the same hoax that stretches as far back as October 2013, when Facebook users began seeing posts purportedly issued by media outlets such as Fox News and CNN, teasing the story that Celine Dion had been killed in a plane crash or automobile accident with the following text and offering links to a video report on the subject:

(Hollywood Breaking News) - R.I.P Celine Dion

At about 11 a.m. ET on Sunday (October 20, 2013), Celine Dion died in a plane crash. The culprit for the story is Global Associated, aka Mediafetcher. "Celine Dion presumed dead in private plane crash", Global claims that Celine died today at "Denver Peak-Regional Airport". a small private aircraft in distress ceased radio contact with the control tower and fell below radar frequency after reporting engine trouble and smoke in the cockpit. Actress, Celine Dion was believed to have been a passenger on the flight. Raw footage of her accident has been recorded and leaked to Fox Exclusive News but cannot be broadcasted over the air so it was uploaded via the internet for the public to view. Due to the graphic content of this video, please be advised 18+ only. Watch the Full Exclusive Plane Crash Accident Video here.


Her heart will go on? Highway Safety Investigators have told reporters that Celine Dion lost control while driving a friend's vehicle on Interstate 80 and rolled the vehicle several times killing her instantly. The vehicle was believed to have been traveling at approximately 95 miles per hour in a 55mph zone at the time of the accident. Witnesses have stated that Celine Dion's car crossed the double lines several times prior to the accident and hit the center lane divider causing the vehicle to flip and roll. Toxicology tests will be performed to determine whether she was driving under the influence, however initial findings indicate that drugs or alcohol did not contribute in any way to this accident as it was more likely to been caused by road conditions. Memorial services for Celine Dion have not yet been announced. The service is expected to be a closed casket funeral due to the severe head trauma. Raw footage of her accident has been recorded and leaked to fox news but cannot be broadcasted over the air so it was uploaded via the internet for the public to view. Due to the graphic content of this video, please be advised 18+ only.

No such tragic fate had befallen the popular singer, however -- as of late December 2019, she remained alive and posting on Instagram:

Not only were the accounts of her death a hoax, but those reports were being spread by a malicious Facebook app. When users were tricked into clicking through on these fake "R.I.P Celine Dion" posts to see the promised news videos, they ended up installing a rogue app that posted the same very thing to other Facebook pages in their name.

Facebook's Desktop Help section provides users with instructions they can follow to remove unwanted apps from their accounts.

David Mikkelson founded the site now known as snopes.com back in 1994.