Celine Dion has denied the rumours surrounding her relationship with Pepe Munoz – her creative director and longtime best friend.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Pepe was too controlling of the powerhouse singer and forced her to listen to everything he says.
Now, Celine has called upon her “inner circle” to defend her the 34-year-old – who in the past was believed to be her boyfriend.
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A source recently told Page Six that the backup dancer had too much influence over the 51-year-old.
“Pepe is like her boy toy who is really trying to take over. He’s isolating her and people are feeling it. She’s in love with this guy and listens to everything he’s saying. People go to him when they have questions. He’s fully taken over. The only people around her now (are) Pepe, the hairdresser and the stylist,” the source said.
Several sources told the publication that Pepe was responsible for some of Dion’s senior team leaving, including her formal stylist Law Roach.
However, Celine has responded to the accusations through a post on Instagram featuring a letter written by her real inner circle:
“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! Dave, Dee, Denis, Lina, Michel, Naomi, Suzanne, Sydney, Sylvie, Yves.”
This isn’t the first time the Grammy-winner has been forced to defend her friend.
In 2018, Celine shut down rumours she was dating Pepe, calling him her “gay best friend.”
She revealed to Extra:
“Pepe is gay. At first, I think some people did not know that. The thing is that he’s my best friend and we dance together and he did so much for me and even just holding my hand… it’s something that I haven’t had for a long time. He did so much for me, for my mental health, my spirituality, my strength ― my inner strength.”
The chart-topper has maintained a close relationship with Pepe since her husband, René Angélil, sadly passed away at the age of 73 in 2016, after a long battle with throat cancer.
Last year, Celine revealed that she was feeling fragile after learning to live without her beloved husband, René Angélil.
“Even after he’s gone, I still talk to him,” Celine revealed in an intimate interview with Stellar magazine.
The icon attended Paris fashion week with Pepe earlier this month – and enthralled observers with a vast array of attention-grabbing ensembles.
To the delight of her fans, Céline stepped out in a diamond and sapphire heart pendant remarkably reminiscent of the ‘Heart of the Ocean’ hardware from James Cameron’s 1997 film, Titanic.
The L’Oréal ambassador appears to be having a good year and intends to share her glow with the rest of the world.
“I’m at a stage in my life where I’m excited to use my voice to empower others to feel beautiful, confident, and to learn to embrace themselves,” she said in April.
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