Celine Dion's management team has spoken out after the singer's iconic song, “My Heart Will Go On,” was played during a meeting headlined by the former president Donald Trumpthus video clips of the event were posted online.
Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, spoke at a campaign rally in Montana on Friday. In videos posted to social media, Dion's 1997 song from the Oscar-winning film “Titanic” was heard playing, while a video of Dion apparently performing the song onstage played on a large screen.
“Today, Celine Dion's management team and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., became aware of the unauthorized use of the video, recording, musical performance and likeness of Celine Dion singing 'My Heart Will Go On' at a Donald Trump/JD Vance campaign rally in Montana,” a statement on Dion's official social media pages read.
“This use is in no way authorized and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use,” the statement said.
The management team then questioned the choice of the song itself, asking, “And really, THAT song?”
Neither representatives for Dion nor the Trump campaign immediately responded to requests for comment.
Today, Celine Dion’s management team and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., were notified of the unauthorized use of the video, recording, musical performance and likeness of Celine Dion singing “My Heart Will Go On” during a Donald Trump/JD Vance campaign… photo.twitter.com/28CYLFvgER
—Céline Dion (@celinedion) August 10, 2024
Trump headlined a campaign rally in Bozeman, Montana, in an effort to drum up support for Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy.
According to Deadline, the theme song from “Titanic,” which won one of the film’s 11 Oscars in 1998, has been played at Trump campaign rallies in the past.
People on X, formerly Twitter, mocked Trump for his song choice after Friday's rally, pointing out that James Cameron's film is about a sinking ship, which some online saw as a metaphor for Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.
“Meanwhile, the Trump campaign is literally playing the theme song from a movie about a sinking ship for a rally,” wrote David Hogg, a survivor of the Parkland High School shooting and founder of the gun control organization March for Our Lives.
“I'm glad I'm not the only one who realized that the song from a movie about a sinking ship might not be the best for Trump/Vance to use…,” wrote another user.
Friday's rally in Montana was also criticized for its visual gaffe, which saw people standing behind Trump and holding up signs that appeared to be aimed at Trump himself.
The signs were intended to insult his Democratic presidential rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, by saying, “Lyin' Kamala, You're fired!” in a variation on Trump's catchphrase from his reality show “Apprentice.”
But the words “Lyin’ Kamala” were printed in a light color against a white background, barely visible, while “You’re fired!” was printed much larger and in bold blue letters. The effect was a sea of judgment around Trump onstage.
