Canadian pop star Celine Dion has criticized and mocked Donald Trump’s campaign for using her hit song about the sinking of the Titanic without permission during a recent rally.
Dion, whose tear-jerking ballads have earned her the affection of millions, made the powerful and somewhat tongue-in-cheek statement on Saturday, the day after President Trump played a video clip of “My Heart Will Go On” from the film “Titanic” at a campaign rally in Bozeman, Montana.
A statement posted to X and Dion’s Instagram account, which has more than eight million followers, read: “Celine Dion’s management team and record company Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc. have been made aware of the unauthorized use of a video, recording, musical performance and likeness of Celine Dion singing ‘My Heart Will Go On’ at the Donald Trump/JD Vance campaign rally in Montana.”
“Such use is not authorized in any manner whatsoever, and Celine Dion does not endorse such or any similar use.
“…Really, that song?”
Today, Celine Dion’s management team and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., became aware of the unauthorized use of video, recordings, musical performances and likeness of Celine Dion singing “My Heart Will Go On” in a Donald Trump/J.D. Vance campaign appearance… pic.twitter.com/28CYLFvgER
— Celine Dion (@celinedion) August 10, 2024
The song was featured in the 1997 Oscar-winning film about the 1912 shipwreck, but rather than a ship hitting an iceberg, the song is about love, loss and resilience.
Reactions on social media were mostly derisive.
“Perfect, when your campaign is heading towards the iceberg, you might as well put it in music,” said X user Marc Broklawski.
“Is the Trump campaign being trolled from within?” NBCUniversal executive Mike Sinton wrote.
“For me it’s perfect for Tumptanic!” Antonio Cusano said on Instagram.
Dion disappointed some people when she refused to perform at the inauguration after President Trump was elected in 2016.
“Unfortunate for her. It would have been a good thing. Sadly she doesn’t think so. I’ve been a fan of hers for 30 years but have to respectfully disagree with her political beliefs,” Heidi Joy wrote on Instagram.
This isn’t the first time singers have spoken out against Trump’s use of their songs: In May 2023, Village People sent Trump a cease-and-desist letter and threatened legal action after he used their song “Macho Man” and other hits without permission.
In the letter, Karen Willis, wife of Village People lead singer Victor Willis, wrote: “Since then, we have been inundated with posts on social media about what many fans and members of the public have mistakenly believed to be an imitation performance by the real Village People in violation of the Lanham Act.
“As such, this performance has caused, and will continue to cause, public confusion as to why The Village People put on such a performance. We did not do such a thing.”
Many Trump supporters and observers have heard Trump use the band’s song “YMCA” over the years. Willis noted in her letter that it was previously “tolerated” by her husband and the band. But as of May 2023, she said, “his use of the song cannot be allowed to cause public confusion regarding his endorsement.”
