Celine Dion speaks out after tabloids assume she’s dating gay best friend
Canadian singer Celine Dion and Spanish dancer Pepe Munoz arrive for the 2019 Spring-Summer Haute Couture collection fashion show by RVDK Ronald van der Kemp in Paris, on January 23, 2019.(FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP/Getty)
Celine Dion has spoken out to deny rumours that she is dating dancer Pepe Muñoz, because he’s gay.
The singer had faced months of speculation about her love life after being photographed out-and-about with Spanish backing dancer Pepe Muñoz.
However, it turns out that two adults of different gender being photographed together does not actually mean they are dating.
Celine Dion not dating gay ‘best friend’ Pepe Muñoz
Speaking to Extra TV, she said: “I felt for him quite a bit [after seeing the rumours].
“Pepe is gay, and at first I think some people did not know that.”
The singer’s husband of 22 years, René Angélil, passed away in 2016.
Canadian singer Celine Dion and Spanish dancer Pepe Munoz (FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP/Getty)
Speaking about how her close friendship with Muñoz helped her overcome her grief, Dion said: “The thing is that he’s my best friend and we dance together, and he did so much for me.
“Even just holding my hand, it’s something that I haven’t had for a long time… a hug from a 6′ 3” man, it was wonderful.
People really thought there was a romance going on. He did so much for me, for my mental health, my spirituality, my strength.”
Celine Dion has a gender-neutral clothing line
Speaking about her late husband, she added: “It was a challenge. It was a challenge to go back onstage.
“I didn’t know if I was going to have the strength and the courage to sing again because René always sang with me. René was my second half.”
She added: “Raising three boys, I was afraid that they were going to ask me about ‘where’s dad?’ every day.
“I was afraid a little bit to not be cuddled at night. I was afraid to not have a partner to make me laugh.”
In 2018, Celine Dion launched a gender-neutral children’s clothing brand, CELINUNUNU.
She explained that her children had inspired the gender-neutral line on a trip to Disney World.
She said: “I thought they were going to go for the big superheroes. They were looking at princesses. And they all wanted to be Minnie Mouse.
“I end up saying to myself, ‘You know what, it’s OK.’ You know why it’s OK? Because they’re talking, they’re finding themselves.”
She explained: “The message I’m trying to get across is you raise your children the way you want to raise your children.
“You have to decide what’s right for them. We’re just proposing another way to take away the stereotype.”
