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In 1990, Céline Dion for the first time in ADISQ history refused an award for “English artist of the year”. Citing she is not English, she is quebecois. This sparked nationwide controversy in both English & French Canada.
— Here’s why that moment was so significant.
In 1990, Céline Dion for the first time in ADISQ history refused an award for “English artist of the year”. Citing she is not English, she is quebecois. This sparked nationwide controversy in both English & French Canada.
— Here’s why that moment was so significant.
As soon as Céline refused the award, ADISQ President André Menard rushed from the control room to backstage where Céline was coming off the stage.
This is when the fireworks started.
This is when the fireworks started.
By the time René got from his seat in the audience to backstage, André & Ginette we’re going in on Céline.
Ginette was her idol, the woman she saw as a queen. And she was lecturing her. René was not having it and immediately interjected.
Ginette was her idol, the woman she saw as a queen. And she was lecturing her. René was not having it and immediately interjected.
René cut off Ginette and tried to explain why Céline refused the award and Ginette continued until Céline told her “very directly” according to her sister Manon...
“What I did was the right thing to do Mrs. Reno, don’t you ever speak to me like this again” and walked away.
“What I did was the right thing to do Mrs. Reno, don’t you ever speak to me like this again” and walked away.
The drama wasn’t over between André & René.
Celine suggested the award category be renamed on stage. And René told André if he continued to ridicule Céline, she would no longer be apart of ADISQ..
Celine suggested the award category be renamed on stage. And René told André if he continued to ridicule Céline, she would no longer be apart of ADISQ..
Céline was the biggest star in Quebec, and brought in a widely diverse & younger audience, André knew the ratings would drop.
The following year, he did exactly what Céline suggested & renamed the award.
“Artist of the year achieving the most success outside of Quebec”
The following year, he did exactly what Céline suggested & renamed the award.
“Artist of the year achieving the most success outside of Quebec”
The older generation of anglophone Quebec, were offended. They felt as though Céline called them “less than” because they were apart of the anglophone community.
Céline didn’t care to respond to these claims as Montréal anglophones often regarded themselves as “better” than the francophones who didn’t speak English in the outskirts of Montréal.
Céline got widespread support from the younger generation and English Canada, she even had to add more shows to her tour in Montréal due to the attention from the sparked controversy.
