Celine Dion and Rene Angelil How He Managed Molded and Married Her

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Global superstar Celine Dion married her late husband Rene Angelil on December 17, 1994 in a very lavish televised ceremony. She was 26 and he was 52. Their relationship is often described to be that of a fairy tale, a love story of soulmates who were destined to be together. In this episode we will take a deep look into how "Rene Angelil Managed, Molded, and Married Her"
Sources/Credits:
Books
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Interviews
• Celine Dion - Intervie...
• Celine Dion @ Barbara ...
• Celine Dion : Intimat...
• René - The Man Behind ...
• Celine Dion Driven
• Celine Dion Behind T...
• A & E Biography - Celi...
• A & E Biography Celi...
• A & E Biography - Celi...
• A & E Biography Celi...
• Celine Dion - Full Int...
• Céline Dion - CTV News...
"It's NOT Tea. It's Information" - BE

[@greerakual]

I think Renee was able to isolate Celine very well and he was probably able to alter the vision of him in her head. Most 12 year old would have made Renee a father figure in their head or another adult figure like an uncle , but if he was always careful to remind her “I’m your manager”, “I’m not your mom or dad or uncle, I’m your manger” that leaves space for a new role to be filled which opens the door to grooming.

[@Clintsessentials]

I always felt Celine was isolated in Vegas with him. So sad.

[@99balloons71]

@greerakual from the 1st day, i heard of his relatio ship with Céline at her young age i felt so 🤢 to think she been groomed, persuaded into a sexual relationship , later turning to a love affair I

[@whitedragoness23]

@@99balloons71he seemed to hate when his previous singer perused love more than her career. He married one of women he managed the career Of but stated others shouldn’t cross personal and buiness. He crossed it two times and his second wife reminded me of Celine. He was quick to make exceptions for himself and he kept her isolated and he was a dominating non relative so Celine went for the illusion of love. They dated as soon as she turned 18, but that means he has feelings for her before she was 18, maybe 17, 16, 15….he knew and took advantage that she fell for him

[@sea-saltedcaramel6122]

From reading Celine's autobiography, I would tend to disagree. Celine already had a father, an incredibly close-knit family at that, and she also had a no-nonsense mother who was ever present, guiding her through her career alongside Renee. She also makes it clear that it was she who decided to pursue Renee after she turned 18 (he was unaware of her feelings), and is not only very open in how strong-willed she is, but how exactly she went about making him see her "differently" as an adult and potential romantic partner as opposed to a business partner.

[@KAMILLE731]

@@greerakual I’m not one to accuse someone of something without facts. I can only go by Celine’s word, which are well documented in her biography. As a child, and even into her older teen years (I believe 19), she was never alone with Rene. Her mother or an older sibling was always around and her mother always traveled with them. When Rene had his second divorce, he actually took a break from managing her for like a year or 2…and went to the states. Also according to Celine, it was at the age of 21 when she made HER move on Rene. Prior to that, Rene avoided Celine when he discovered she had feelings for him. I believe because “grooming” is the new trending word, everyone wants to believe that because of their age difference, he “groomed her”, when according to Celine, Rene was checking for her in that way. Her family sought him out to manage her, which he did…she was very popular in Canada before she broke into then states in the early 1990’s. Celine knows her life better than anyone else, so I’m going to believe her instead of a brand new “fan” hopping on the latest bait story for some views and clicks.

[@jenniferotto3959]

I hate that a lot of people said she wasnt a pretty child. Her face was gorgeous. She has always been beautiful, justvas beautiful as the voice she possesses.

[@betheecommentator]

Completely agree

[@Flo1918]

@theofficialBTC ..sorry, I disagree completely..Celine was NOT pretty at all...she looks better now due to corrections on her face.. Many Canadiens were shocked at how Celine was always with Renée, he had an eye and ear to know who could become a good singer...what is done is done..with her heath being so bad..she might never know a new love..

[@colecolettecole]

she is not beautiful except her eyes as it is with most people ~ that long long pointed chin ~ small very thin lipped mouth ~ long skinny face ~ even with make up it still shows ~

[@eloinaseguro5230]

SURGERIES REALLY HELP HER GET BEAUTIFUL

[@YukiLove-w9x]

I know! That was almost as ridiculous as rest of the story! She was so cute. I never heard someone complain that they were too skinny and too tall!

[@BaByCaKeZ106]

She says no one would ever love her as deep and true as he did. How could she know, poor Celine you were never given the chance 😢

[@Jenn-io3it]

Entirely heartbreaking.

[@Leira6267]

Poor thing was groomed to believe that. Smh

[@jackiepowell7513]

She wasn't Interested in dating

[@starlight0002]

When did she say that? Specific reference please?

[@adrienne7642]

@@starlight0002she said it in the first couple of minutes of the video the wedding scene

[@IvyroseGullwhacker]

I think one of the saddest parts of this is that she was absolutely distraught when he died. That iconic performance of "All By Myself" is branded in my mind. He clearly meant the world and more to her. But their relationship was established on an absolutely horrible foundation. All I can say is I hope Celine Dion is doing alright and has good family around her as she continues her life.

[@betheecommentator]

I agree I remember that performance. Very sad.

[@JuriAmari]

Also Ashes from Deadpool 2. If I recall correctly, it was recorded not long after Rene Angelil passed. The song’s amazing but it also hits differently with that in mind.

[@margueritetheron9667]

I think their relationship was built on love, why critisise their relationship‼️‼️‼️❓❓❓

[@betheecommentator]

@@margueritetheron9667 not criticizing but looking at it objectively because many wanted to know if Rene groomed Celine. It was interesting because in a recent interview Celine was asked the question: how would she feel if her son dated someone much older like how Rene was older than her. She responded that she would not approve of it.

[@silentbliss7666]

@@betheecommentator your video had painted Rene negatively right from the beginning imo. Not that it matters, but to me the man is dead. He can't defend himself anymore, they had a seemingly good life together and now she has only good things to say about her husband. Her children are her business. There are dark conspiracy rumours about Celine though, you might want to look them up

[@isabelleboulay2651]

This was grooming in every sense possible. She was 12 when they met. He made her little girl dream come true... for a price. She was isolated from a normal teenage life, no exposure to kids her age. Put in a situation where there's financial pressure to support her family. He didn't make her finish school, didn't expose her to teenage experiences at all. He was controlling all her moves and surroundings. He very much wanted to be seen as a savior. What other role model did she have that seemed as powerful? Then the adult new look made him see her differently.... come on, he knew her inside and out before then. He exploited her adoration of what success they had. This was payback. His best friend went to jail for abusing another child star for years. He was fully supportive of his pedophile friend during trial and after sentencing. Grooming seems more acceptable when there's financial success around it. He molded her and made it look like it was her decision. Think about it, who made the first move to show the reality of the relationship had changed? He approached her once she was convinced that he was everything a man should be.... without any exposure to other men her age or dating any other. Maybe he just groomed her patiently.... but it is grooming in every aspect of the isolation, a teenager will have the impression they're in love when it's in fact a father figure... which he turned into intimacy with one move. He just knew the right moment to let her know she's a woman. Everything in her life is completely controlled by him, especially her feelings. He created a codependent relation that he fed the right elements to achieve what he wanted. She was an investment. Any adult isolating a child for all these years would be claimed a pedophile.

[@betheecommentator]

Thank you so much for commenting and sharing your thoughts. This was a very thought provoking comment. You also made such valid points. Especially your comment regarding his friend Guy Cloutiers abuse is very telling.

[@chantalle7340]

Well stated. Since his death, she has been extremely thin and IMO, dressing in an odd manner. Have you seen any of her recent photos? It’s a sad situation.

[@noeleneroodt783]

You are so right. They have all the patience in the world to groom their victims

[@sabrina.natalie]

Wow. This is absolutely insightful. I was also involved in a relationship that was abusive, traumatic, and predatory - and everything that you described made me feel like you were reading my diary. This is beautifully articulated!

[@chantalle7340]

@@sabrina.natalie I hope you have been healing. ❤️

[@mirandapontarelli5485]

I was obsessed with Celine in the late 90s/early 00s, and my parents were concerned I would want to emulate her. They knew it was grooming, and they were worried I would think it was cool. In Celine's words "never did, never will."

[@MadameMagoto]

Great parents!! 👏

[@francescawilliams8177]

A few months ago, I commented and said society was not ready to call what Renée did grooming because they ended up married and Celinè Dion is successful. However, no one can convince me even if he waited for her to turn 18 what he did wasn't wrong. She was 13 and still a child.

[@betheecommentator]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us!

[@maggiedk]

Ugh, this is such a good point. The part at the end where she says the hardest part about losing him is having to make decisions for herself really shows how much control he had over her entire life, it's so sad. I have no doubt in my mind that he groomed her and kept her dependent on him.

[@kiskakuznetsova503]

Yes! Given her age, it WAS grooming, it cannot be anything else.

[@CoCo-yv3hl]

Totally agree with all you said & I shared the same sentiments

[@Joy-oe1dt]

This. And it's troubling because it's not just this case it is a wider societal view. Child marriage is still allowed in much of the US. If a girl is unmarried and preyed upon by an adult we all see it is r*pe, because we recognize that children aren't developmentally capable of consenting to an adult and that those interactions are harmful to children. Yet if the child is married it is somehow ok and the adult gets a free pass? The marriage hasn't changed anything. The kid is still developmentally the same, so why do people think it is less harmful to the young person because they got married?

[@OceanSound100]

He got a divorce from his wife when Celine was 17 years old. He was with Celine all the time, traveling and managing her career. Renee knew that if he did not move fast, he might lose Celine to another man, and his position as her manager could end. He did NOT want to lose that much money. He found a superstar, and if he lost her, he would return to a mediocre life. I see him as a money-hungry man for the most part.

[@scds1082]

They were all in a co-dependent relationship with each other. The parents: desperate to get out of poverty and have their daughter live their dreams. Céline: desperate to make it big and leave a life, not only of poverty, but of being an outcast. Réné: wanting to make it big at all costs. Under such circumstances, and especially for a young, naive, girl, it's easy to "fall in love" and for him, easy to fall in love when this is your ticket to the big time. I think their vision of the "big time" and their personal feelings were highly emmeshed.

[@adiitiwalke7015]

Gold digging pedo.

[@raimeyewens7518]

His wife also helped Celine learn how to dress and present herself professionally. She gave up her tv job to help her husband with Celine. Then he divorces her to Pursue a child. What a slap in the face.

[@OceanSound100]

@@raimeyewens7518 That is terrible! Also, he had two children with his wife - a girl and a boy - He left them, too, as it looks. He had the boys with Celine and only paid attention to them. I never heard anything about him visiting his two kids. That is even worse - I am sure those kids got hurt by that. How far some people will go for money. So sad.

[@Suz1]

@@OceanSound100 Three children, actually--one son with the first wife, two children with the second, three sons with Celine.

[@delphinedelphinedelphine]

that last quote alone, where she talks about how she's now going to have to make decisions for herself because Rene has passed... really chilling and it implies a lot about their dynamic, even after all these decades

[@CrustyUgg]

I don't see anything wrong with that. I have the same fear. I'm 34 and my bf is 61. We have a son together, a house.. cars.. Like we're just like every other couple. Age gaps are the last taboo. Society will sooner accept people sleeping with their dogs before they do two of age people wanting to be together.

[@delphinedelphinedelphine]

@AngelBabii_x0x but were you a preteen whose work constituted the livelihood of an adult man? I don't think there is much wrong inherently with age gaps (often, they don't work because there are disconnects in terms of experiences or goals) but this one was so rife for something weird to happen, what with the complete power imbalance between the two.

[@_Julie_Bee]

@@CrustyUgg was your bf an authority figure when you were still a developing child? Was your bf bestfriend , at the same time, sexually assaulting his own protégée, ending up in jail after decades of abuse? The only reason dude went to jail was because he lost his grip as he couldn't bring her to Celine's level. And shifted his focus to younger prettier victimes.

[@CrustyUgg]

@@_Julie_Bee to a lot of people it doesn't matter. When I've told people that my boyfriend is basically twice my age, they still don't think it's OK even though we met when I was in my late 20s and more than capable of making decisions about who I want to be with. With all the things that people consider to be normal, nowadays age gap, relationships are the last taboo.

[@_Julie_Bee]

@@CrustyUgg I'm 10 yrs older than my son's father. He was an adult, ppl made jokes but in the end, the age gap did make a difference in maturity. He turned out being so insecure that I've endured 7 years of domestic violence, and almost died. Tho I truly believe that as we age, the gap becomes less and less an issue, there are several milestones that one needs to go thru in order to be a balanced adult.

[@leahmickens3928]

I don’t know what I was expecting with this video, and I’m not even done with it, but what I’m hearing and seeing is horrific. Did Celine admit in that one interview that she’s borderline illiterate in her native tongue? It sounds like she had some kind of learning difficulty, but instead of getting help, she was just allowed to drop out of school (at twelve!) so her mother could live vicariously through her and support the family. If Mrs Dion resented Celine for existing and Celine had to fight for attention among so many siblings, it’s no wonder she was so open to Rene’s manipulations. It reminds me in many ways of the Mary Kay Letournou case, with a creepy adult grooming a child from an underprivileged and chaotic background to be the “perfect spouse.” It didn’t matter that Celine was of age when the relationship was consummated, because she had been groomed to think she had no other choices.

[@betheecommentator]

Very good point, wow such valid statements you made. Yes it seems that in the interview you’re referring to she can’t write that well in French.

[@LilyGazou]

I live in the town where LeTourneau lived with her young lover. Such a strange story. he took care of her until she died of cancer.

[@Suz1]

@@LilyGazou He divorced her before her death, though.

[@spicymayo623]

Omg I was looking for this comment! You worded way better than I ever could. I was just horrified. I had to go back and listen again because I was making dinner while listening. But omg the mother. It’s not all her fault of course but it starts with the parents. They did not protect or love her enough. It’s sad.

[@katrielisrael7262]

Dude you're painting a horrible picture that's not even true. She's so successful with her talent. Her talent was music, not writing. Stfu.

[@samd2762]

I was just talking about Celine and her husband to my 15 year old. We were talking about grooming. I told her I’d find an article about it but this video popped up! I love it when things work out.

[@betheecommentator]

Oh wow perfect timing. I hope you guys find it informative

[@tektako]

Nothing like preparing your daughter for victimhood, indoctrinating her that everyones a predator and raising her to distrust her own judgement. If you did everything else right you wouldn’t need to be showing her that kind of videos because she’d know for herself when something is wrong.

[@areasonableperson24]

@@tektako i disagree with you.

[@debras3806]

It's because our phones are listening to us! Start noticing, it'll constantly give you the topic you're talking about 😂

[@samd2762]

@@debras3806 oh I know. It’s creepy! Sometimes I test it out and say random things and see if an ad pops up.

[@kokomp]

I’m happy this is finally being more talked about. I’ve said this time and time again and I’ve always received the “love is love” or “they were soulmates” bs. The facts show that this is textbook grooming, and sadly, Celine will die thinking that it’s true love. This is why we need to have these conversations so that this doesn’t happen to other young girls and boys.

[@whitedragoness23]

It’s sad that she states how she was a unwanted and unplanned pregnancy. That would of reduced her self confidence being a unwanted child. Then the teasing at school would of plunged what ever selfish esteem down the drain. Then rene won’t let her date or explore love. I do wonder if Rene was the only man telling her how beautiful she was or wonderful she was? She was a fish in a fish bowl trained to preform but kept away from the ocean

[@kokomp]

@@whitedragoness23 i completely agree. There were multiple factors that played in this whole thing. I think one of the biggest factors is the social norms at that time. Many people who grew up in that age didn’t even know to call this grooming. If this happened today, social media wouldn’t let it slip. The best we can do is educate the younger generations about grooming and self-love. Parents also need to be educated and aware in their kids’ lives.

[@annaservetas214]

What phappaned to her that was so terrible He loved her and she loved him. They had a beautiful life together and 3 beautiful kids. He did not disrespect her in any way They were a classy couple

[@kokomp]

@@annaservetas214 you’re free to believe what you want, as am I. However, the facts are facts and they don’t lie 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@annaservetas214]

@kiana marghetis yes , facts are facts Love is real He did not mistreat her in any way He totaly respected and loved her and she the same. You and some others are trying to make it look like falling in love is something dirty and filthy

[@heathercontois4501]

As soon as I heard "very mature for her age" it just solidified the grooming aspect for me. I always hated that she was treated like this by him and how much he used her, really. Edit: Good lord, it was so bad everything he did. His band mate should know better than to think that an agent has only one darn client. This was scary.

[@christineperez7562]

They didn't date until she was 20 and married when she was 26. That is not a child bride.

[@heathercontois4501]

@@christineperez7562 grooming starts early you idiot. He isolated her from other men.

[@bowtoyoursensei554]

@@christineperez7562 He isolated her from her peers and family and made her completely dependent on him for literally everything from the time she was a child. She didn't have a chance to develop her own interests, her own tastes, her own mind...she wasn't a chronological child when they started "dating"...which is actually just a euphemism for "having sex" btw...and we know he took her virginity, so she never had a chance to date others and maybe get to *choose* for herself who she married. No, he chose her, he molded her for himself, divorced his first wife, and then he married Celine and got her pregnant right away so she couldn't escape. Not a chronological child bride, but she was certainly a child from an emotional and developmental standpoint.

[@TyeArtisik]

@@christineperez7562 she's been falling in love with him much sooner than that age.. why is that? He was obviously playing with her mind then, until she got older for them to actually come out & date

[@midokhader5509]

Twenty years still young even at 26 when they married still young and not mature

[@texastea5686]

I NEVER thought they had a "wonderful love story", I found it disturbing and gross. And can you imagine the jackpot Renee hit? He was able to groom someone so young to fall in love with him, adore him, have no other lovers but him, and ensure all her success and money belonged solely to him. I'm not saying he didn't love her or care for her, but he groomed her in such way that she was ALL his! He was her first kiss, he took her virginity, her love and adoration.....

[@laurenmay2098]

The same thing about the Queen, met prince Phillip at 13, and said she was in love. The truth of the matter was, at that time, they only marry among themselves, cousins. She had no say on who she was going to marry. And now, everyone keeps saying it was a Cinderella. Prince Phillip did what his uncle asked of him, you are going to marry into the royals, period. And he did, and his life was a wealthy one, but not happy.

[@texastea5686]

@@laurenmay2098 ay but at least he was handsome! Lol!!!

[@XOXO-mb2vh]

Maybe thats why she was bulimic.

[@laurenmay2098]

@@XOXO-mb2vh I think she has many issues, and now the doctors said she has an immune system disease. Many people with trauma do get sick as they age. I feel sorry for her, she does not know what it is not to have him on her side, and maybe she thought it was love.

[@laurenmay2098]

@@texastea5686 I see beauty in him, but he was very rude and crude dude. Not my cup of tea.

[@50shadesofhina90]

I don't understand people in the comments swearing up and down everything was perfect. I am 22 today. I could never look at a 13 year old i know today then marry them when they turn 20. The fact that they knew eachother back then is the problem- not the age gap itself.

[@betheecommentator]

Yes! THAT is what I found disturbing too. Precisely that!

[@Enriquez2222]

And people wonder why some parents don’t allow just anyone around their kids. This world is scary

[@betheecommentator]

Right?!

[@cynthiarobinson1730]

I wonder did God accept him, or hell it makes me wonder if he had sex with her before 18.

[@Jessica-wo6px]

Our little ones need to be protected😥Too much evil in the world😢

[@tsegaberhane8690]

Her mom and dad only were looking for fame and fortune

[@KaraNolting]

If I recall correctly, Mariah Carey was married to her much older manager too - around when her first hit album came out. I was a kid and remember thinking it was SO weird...

[@betheecommentator]

See those power dynamics can be a huge problem

[@KaraNolting]

@@betheecommentator absolutely! Honestly, I'm glad that 11 I could spot that something wasn't right there and it probably helped in keeping me away from creepy older men through my teen years.

[@kuroe-chan5190]

I forgot all about that …Motolla. Difference she was miserable and escaped soon as she could. I do feel Celine , at least from what it appears truly loved him, seemed they truly loved each other. But Renee appeared to be so messy with how he previously moved. Hope he treated her right the time they were together

[@timmy841212]

And Tommy had signed her when she was just 18 or 19 years old though I did read that theirs was a sexless marriage so it was really a marriage of convenience but yeah it shows you how controlling these folks can get.

[@alien8855]

@@timmy841212 I swear I saw a interview back in late 90s or early 20s where she was asked by Barbara walters if Tommy Mottola was the first man she went to bed with and she admitted he was.

[@shadetreader]

My first boyfriend was twice my age when we got together, and started negging me immediately. He was thrice-divorced and I was a virgin. He was very controlling. It took me several attempts to leave him, finally moving hundreds of miles to attend massage school, and that gave me enough distance to feel a little safer.

[@proud2bnumber1]

So are you ok now?

[@wishingonthemoon1]

Something similar happened to me.

[@Rollimggiant]

Was it his age ?? Or thar He was abusive ? Does a man need age to control you or abuse you ? No

[@renooples]

It’s so sad to hear her talk so negatively about the way she looked when she was younger. I find her so cute, happy, and captivating. I hope that everyone will try to remember that other people don’t see the flaws that you do when you look in the mirror, they see your spirit.

[@saintejeannedarc9460]

So many of us see ourselves as ugly ducklings when we are young. She got to grow out of that phase, got her teeth fixed, and married a man who adored her and accepted her just as she was.

[@dominaevillae28]

Celine’s parents went to Rene because her manager at that time thought Celine should spend more time in school than pursuing a career.

[@betheecommentator]

Yes that is correct.

[@micahbellonline9462]

BS. I'm from Quebec, their parents were always wannabe celebrities, her father tried so hard. Their whole family is leeching on Celine's fame, even her mom had her cooking show here, and the sister kept creeping around.

[@leahkate8143]

You did an outstanding job. Like others who commented, I’m Canadian and close in age to Celine so lived through the rise of her fame in Canada and everyone had a few comments back in the day about how creepy their relationship was. I want to focus on YOUR work on this documentary, you did exactly what you set out to do, kept it to the facts and let us viewers make up our own minds and that isn’t easy. Truly enjoyed this, thank you.

[@betheecommentator]

Oh wow thank you so much!! First, I appreciate you watching this and taking the time to comment such encouraging words! I am glad my intentions were able to come across in the delivery of this video as it is always my goal to lay out the facts and allow you all to form your own opinions! Thank you again ❤️

[@Theloversconjure]

Excellent job putting this together! Celine is so sweet and humble. She gives me literal earth angel vibes. It was hard to hear her speaking down on herself so much. I hope she’s in a place of healing after Renee’s passing. ❤

[@betheecommentator]

Thank you so much for watching and sharing your thoughts ❤️❤️

[@cherieallen6726]

No angel promoting New World Order infant clothing in black print. Devilish looking. Devil Illuminati hand gestures she shows all the time.

[@gypsysoul5513]

I do not get earth angel vibes from Celine at all. Have you seen what she’s up to lately with her satanic children’s clothing line? I do not believe she’s anything like what her image was made to be.

[@WilliamsPinch]

Mmmm plotting on a married man 🥴 real Angelic.

[@anastasiathouki]

I think that she was sweet and humble, I liked her when she was younger but I started to instantly dislike her after her commercial for her gender neutral clothing brand for children

[@cloverhighfive]

Great work! I saw this unfold in real time, cause I'm around Céline's age, and from Québec. You did stellar work in your research, I'm amazed at how you managed to keep it relatively short considering the source material, you did a great job with the French names. And I remember how we were all appaled. I remember the royalty-level wedding. And we were still stunned. I don't think it ever got not-weird.

[@betheecommentator]

Thank you so much!! This video could have easily been 2 hrs+ but I try to be mindful of everyone’s time and not make the videos too long. It’s so interesting hearing from you all that live and are from Québec. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience of the situation!

[@tektako]

And yet she is happy. Imagine.

[@sc-bj2fs]

When she had a baby with him I was 14. I was appalled. I stopped listening afterwards.

[@angelinalah]

Yes! You nailed it. It never got "not weird". You're totally right.

[@alwaysflushinpublic]

It is a wonderful examination of her early years. I would personally love to hear a professional psychologist's evaluation of this entire situation.

[@sarac2019]

This was honestly tough to view. She was so young and he was in complete control of her life. No doubt in my mind he groomed her.

[@jmpl_aaren]

Their story is a complicated issue, and I applaud how you handled the subject. I can see both points of view: as a longtime fan, I can personally relate to Céline's side (because I had deep emotional & physical attraction to older men when I was a young teen) but it's hard to deny that René's previous experience with Reno didn't affect how he managed Céline - especially after she reached adulthood. There is one story I'm surprised you missed. In her autobiography, Céline told a story about the origins of her attraction to René. When she was 14-15, she was obsessed with him. She obtained a copy of a photograph of him that she cherished. When she was alone, she would kiss it and caress it, then hide it under her pillow when she slept. One day when they were travelling, her mother found the photo and although I can't remember the reaction she described, her mother was not pleased. I sincerely doubt that, at that time, René was attracted to her. But Eddy Marnay (the lyricist) saw this complex relationship and many of Céline's songs from that era reflect her desire to run away with a man who was, if not older, wiser and more experienced. If you Google the translations of these lyrics (songs like "Avec Toi" and "Trois Heures Vingt" to name a few), it's clear Eddy knew Céline was in love with René. In fact, I seem to recall her brother admitted knowing too. Like René and everyone else surrounding Céline, they all thought it was a passing childhood crush. After her "transformation", her lyricist for the Incognito album wrote a song called "Lolita" to express her desire to seduce René. Céline admitted (again, in her autobiography, I believe) that she watched René's expression when she sang it for the first time in the studio to see if he understood who it was intended for and he seemed deeply uncomfortable. This was the year before Eurovision - so if that story is true, she persisted with her efforts until he finally caved in 1988. The movie Aline did a great job handling their story. I highly recommend watching it on Amazon Prime while it's still there. Props to you for your excellent reporting, and I'm sorry for writing a novel here ;-D

[@betheecommentator]

Love your comment!! I know the story your speaking of, I didn’t include it because I didn’t want the audience to think that I was “trying to romanticize it”. So I thought it might be more neutral if told more so from the viewpoint of 3rd parties. Hence I used the two or three books quoted in this video. I am a huge fan of Celine and this was a hard one to do because I found myself going back and forth. At times, this seemed problematic and at other times, romantic. So, like you, I was torn. But it was a highly requested video, so I gave it a shot. I also, believe that Celine was the “aggressor” in the situation because everyone that recounted their story said so. She even said, she pursued him. They are such a fascinating story. But I can also see, how this can be “controversial”. Again, thanks so much for your comment! I loved reading it! ❤️❤️

[@WilliamsPinch]

It’s not that complicated. She turned 18 the same year Rene divorced his second wife… pretty obvious to me. It only made him uncomfortable that other people could see the attraction.

[@Dcs.234]

@kimmycook3174 totally agree with you

[@ate20001a]

Lasciate che le persone amino e sposino chi vogliono...giovani od avanti negli anni, non si ha il diritto di giudicare anche perché Celine l'ha amato follemente ...penso tuttora lei lo ami.

[@waynedeadder664]

Rene was old enough to know Celine was not.

[@tiffanykim2773]

How interesting that Paul the first Manager wanted Celine to grow up and go to school and be normal before fully getting into the business yet Rene wanted the opposite as did Celine and her mom. They don't make managers like Paul now a days.

[@betheecommentator]

Such a good distinction you made between the two! Thank you for addressing that!!

[@vickienna_games]

I wonder how Paul feels about all of this after many years (not sure if he is still living).

[@betterbadnews370]

@@betheecommentator Paul was a loser. Rene was a winner. Pop stars are constructed. We'll never know how many talented young singers missed their moment because they were NOT prepared properly. Do you think Canada has an infinite number of talented managers available who can recognize and exploit such a rare opportunity to advance the career of a singer and her family who wanted to be exploited as much as Rene wanted to exploit Celine. Ask your self this: If Rene had never arrived on the scene and Paul continued as the lackluster manager he was, would you be willing to risk never having heard or even known of Celine Dion? Because that is the choice Celine and her family had before them.

[@saintejeannedarc9460]

Except Rene actually knew his client. Celine never turned out to be a child star who was overworked and denied a childhood. She never ended up hiding her misery in drugs and alcohol. She was happy to work, hated school anyway. She admits she could have benefited from more schooling, but she wasn't forced. She was already skipping school before Rene came into the picture, so he didn't force that on her. I don't think she was groomed. He was her manager, and 20 is old enough to know who you want to be w/. They've had an exemplary marriage. It's not as if the grooming theory crowd has been proven right. I could wish I had a love like that.

[@bigfatburn6229]

@@vickienna_gameshe lives.

[@laurelgrasso2897]

In every interview with Celine she always appeared to be too happy. I always felt like she was in denial and almost trying to overcompensate for something being not quite right with the situation. Almost how a woman in an abusive relationship will fake being happy so no one questions what's going on. I know from experience. I have always felt like Renee groomed Celine from a young age. Her commitment, loyalty and almost obsession over him also made me question things.

[@ek6321]

He was giving her what she wanted: a road to fame and riches. And she, in turn, became his cash cow, among other things. In a way, it was a symbiotic relationship.

[@McQuizzical]

@@ek6321 Was it really what she wanted though? Or was she trying to please those she loved?

[@jonimartin5961]

Exactly!

[@kathyvenne8208]

Excellent video. Renee was a Narcissist and he preyed on Celine Dion. She was the golden ticket for him. You can see that Narcissists are surrounding Celine right now.

[@betheecommentator]

Thank you so much for watching and sharing your thoughts with us, I think you are spot on!

[@57andstillkicking]

If he was a narcissist, Celine wouldn’t have had a good marriage or family life, and she was very happy.

[@kathyvenne8208]

No. Not necessarily.

[@RLF1]

I had no idea Renée was so emotionally and physically abusive towards his prior wife, Ann who also helped Celine in her career. I wonder if Celine ever knew this before she got involved with her mentor who she eventually married. The fact that he cheated on his first wife for his second wife and then divorced her for Celine, leaving his children behind. This would have mattered to me and I could never want a man like that. And, Celine comes from a very loving family. He would have stayed my Manager only. I wonder if he ever harmed Celine and their children.

[@Jessica-wo6px]

Makes you wonder, doesn't it? I think it's possible he didn't actively mistreat her because that would be mean losing his meal ticket and I don't think he would risk that. But he did abuse her in other ways like grooming and isolating her from other peers and potential boys, even when she was a young teen and he was an adult. His wife and her parents also aided in this and it wasn't until it was too late that her mother realized the gravity of the situation. Well lady, you shouldn't have let your little girl get close to that old man and none of this would have happened.😕

[@megandombowsky9762]

@@RLF1 Rene was never abusive towards to his wife. As a previous comment said they worked for Rene as a back up singer when he was with his first wife and it was the other way around his wife was verbally abusive with him and Rene was kind and generous to those around him very soft-spoken. I also met Celine 30 years ago and Rene her then fiancé was alongside her and all I’ve ever seen, experienced in the short time that I had with Celine was that Rene was a complete gentleman beside her. He smiled and said hello to me as well and both he and Celine asked me if we enjoyed the show. I think a lot of these comments are incredibly rude and arrogant. The truth of the matter is if those two were just every day working class people and they got married, nobody would even think twice of questioning their age difference. It seems people can’t just stand to see two people genuinely in love, which is so sad it just exemplifies the kind of jealous society we live in.

[@migoreng7789]

i remember reading about their age gap in some celebrity magazine back in the 00s when i was like 10 and it disturbed me 💀 i still lowkey can't believe this is a real story ???

[@betheecommentator]

I know right?! It is definitely a real story. I remember hearing about it too in the 90s but it always talked about in such a romantic way. 😬

[@jordansjul]

I was a middle schooler and remember feeling REVOLTED- the age gap, his creepy, bald, chubby step-uncle vibe like the weird “uncle” in Bridget Jones Diary always grabbing her butt! It made me SO uncomfortable, and I couldn’t understand her attraction, but now that I understand the grooming aspects involved, it makes perfect sense.

[@DebbieMason]

Same! It always sat odd.

[@emmaphilo4049]

I think she just became co dependant with him as she was a child. Wishing her the best, I think she is a musical legend

[@Ilove2teach52]

You be on it. I’m so glad someone finally did this story💯

[@betheecommentator]

Thanks so much for watching!! I hope you find it informative ❤️

[@Ilove2teach52]

@@betheecommentator You are so welcome.

[@laurenbodenstab8688]

Saw Celine in concert after her break in the US, it was awesome! So sad to learn of these hardships. She was my favorite singer of the 90s.

[@AnotherTruth]

She is my favorite singer. ❤

[@dionehackworth1767]

Just watching. I will only say you can't deny what a beautiful voice she had, even when she was so young!

[@betheecommentator]

I agree absolutely beautiful!

[@maggiedk]

Wow. I had no idea about any of this. The way you put together this video is incredible. Your editing and ability to tell these stories in an extremely interesting way keeps improving!

[@betheecommentator]

Awww thank you so much, I’m glad you enjoyed it and also found it informative. Again, thank you ❤️❤️

[@Maki-00]

I had no idea either! I did feel it was a bit weird when she married her older manager, but I had no idea that he had been her manager since she was 12! That added a whole new level of creepiness!

[@karissam5048]

I’m so glad you made a video about this. I always thought this was so insane but often overlooked by hollywood. Thanks for talking about this! Celine deserved better

[@betheecommentator]

This was a highly requested video from my subscribers! Thank you for watching ❤️

[@Jessica-wo6px]

Exactly! No one stood up for her!🤗

[@shelleynobleart]

Truly excellent job. You put the story together well. It's all so terribly ambiguous, isn't it? The question of great love regardless of age and a darker, manipulated dynamic in Celine's case. What is clear is her talent. And that in her perception, Renee was absolutely the great love and stabilizing force in her life. If the circumstances hadn't resulted in global fame and great wealth for her, it would be easier to see the relationship as dubious. What is my bias about fame and wealth that changes my view of this so much? Taking a harder look. Thank you.

[@betheecommentator]

Oh wow thank you so much! Your comment is what I love to see. I appreciate your sharing your thoughts and opinions on the matter and also presented some great questions that are very thought provoking. You raised a good argument that if this hadn’t resulted in wealth and fame what would be the consensus? Did wealth and fame change our perceptions, perhaps. Make it more romantic? I also agree with you, that Celine is amazing! She’s truly of my favorite artists. I love her work. Again, thank you for watching and commenting ❤️❤️

[@alwaysflushinpublic]

Just the one sentence that "the man had little time for his children as he was now obsessed with the teen" is fairly clear about how unhealthy his intentions were. In no way am I diagnosing the deceased Renee but this entire piece seem to be a clear example of "Obsessive Love Disorder". I would love to hear a professional psychologist with an expertise in these types of disorders explain what healthy boundaries were ignored or stomped on in pursuit of his obsession.

[@pjpredhomme7699]

you're right if it had not been so successful this is an entirely different story. As much as she had tremendous talent - he knew how / where /who to position her with to make her the star she became . Believe it or not it takes more than just talent his 30 yrs he had learned and knew what to do with her

[@annnee6818]

It's survivor bias. Because she had success. I saw people excusing Yolanda Hadid not feeding her girls so they could be models because they're successful now. We don't see the many more people who take damage from this and aren't successful because, well, they aren't successful and we don't see them. Just because sth "turned out ok" doesn't make what happened earlier ok.

[@kuroe-chan5190]

Video so well done! But I was floored by Celine’s voice at such a young age!! Something about her voice is mesmerizing to me! Sad what she shared about her mama. I can not imagine wanting maybe 5 and husband want none but end up with 14! But seems like mom made it up to here they both had passion for singing. The first song mom wrote was sung so beautifully by her. I understand though those were different times. But Celine grew up so beautifully despite it all.

[@betheecommentator]

I agree, she is so talented! Even at a young age like you said, she was amazing!!

[@emusaurus]

I can't even imagine having 1

[@egg_bun_]

So *normally* I just listen to long videos like this, but I had to replay that part where Rene was speaking Arabic, since I found that very compelling. The visuals and the editing are amazing, plus your voice is very calming. Such a brilliant video.

[@betheecommentator]

Oh my, thank you so much!! I really appreciate your feedback and am so glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks so much for watching and commenting ❤️❤️

[@eileenbauer4601]

Another superb documentary. I learned so much, and gives one a lot to think about. The first time I knew of Celine Dion was when she was featured in I think an episode of Touched by an Angel. Her background is fascinating. It makes me wonder about the artists who “make it” and those who don’t. Thanks Bee, your videos are always fascinating!

[@betheecommentator]

Thank you so much!!! I’m glad you found it informative ❤️❤️

[@lbar9720]

"Normally, it's not a good idea to mix pleasure with business"... Rene's words, but not one's that HE lived by.

[@betheecommentator]

I found that interesting as well

[@Reading_the_comments]

Wow, this was a Really good documentary! TY for all your hard work. Watching this made me realize, He pushed every man out of the way, of course she fell in love with him. He knew Exactly what he was doing on the day she walked into that office and sang for him.... On a side note, the way she looks at him it's like she worshiped him in a weird way. "Her savior". I know she really loved him too but He was Sick.

[@betheecommentator]

Thank you so much for watching and sharing your thoughts and opinions with us. You make such valid points.

[@MTknitter22]

Yes, she looked at him as he was the one who created THE Celine Dion brand and brought her fame and money. It was not just Rene - the whole thing was sick.

[@therobotdevil2284]

"Normally it's not a good idea to mix pleasure with business," That's rich coming from you, Renee (and plain old gross considering Celine's being 12 when they met). Thank you for doing this video though, it's important that we continue to push back against the old glamorized narratives around age gap relationships that involve grooming like this one.

[@betheecommentator]

Yes I agree. Almost every interview I watched and every article I read that was the narrative. Highly romanticized. Their relationship truly was portrayed as some fairy tale. I hope we continue having these conversations

[@moustik31]

I think, what he learned from his experience with Ginette, is to be the bf/manager, so that he has no competition for the money nor the artistic direction. 🙃

[@betheecommentator]

@@moustik31 dang another great observation. I didn’t even think of that.

[@maggiegilbert412]

“It’s not a good idea to mix pleasure and business” tells you everything you need to know. It’s so clear that Rene had always wanted the star lifestyle and he was grasping at it his whole life. After the unexpected turnout with Ginnette he had to do better “business” with his next client. And how do you earn a naive and hopeful girl’s devotion? By romance. At one point it was even said that he showered her with compliments to build her confidence. All of this was intentional for money. All of this was a business decision.

[@betheecommentator]

@@maggiegilbert412 in her book, Celine wrote how his compliments would make her feel so embarrassed because again she felt very insecure and unattractive. I thought that was interesting too

[@LilBugs80]

I adore Céline I think she has the sweetest Soul, has a great sense of humour, often mocks herself & I imagine wonderful company to be around. I hope the very best for her, she has made a lot of money, yet she talks of the same kinds of hardships that many of us face. No matter what she still smiles & despite her devastation over the loss of Renee, which I wonder was instrumental in her current illness as she lost somm- a worrying anount if weight much adter he passed I worried about her. I hope she makes a full recovery. I hope she gets to live a full & long happy life. Money can't buy you class, Céline just has it in abundance. Bless you Céline you are a true Angel & so loved by people that don't even know you. ❤🕯🙏

[@bonnie_gail]

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20186723/

[@luciasaunders9736]

@@LilBugs80 : Well, she didn't get over him until today.

[@LilBugs80]

@@luciasaunders9736 ? You never get over someone, you learn to live with it. That's life for all of us. We "ALL" lose someone at some point & in some way. So not sure what you mean.

[@amylin5062]

I’m a recent subscriber. The work and research you put into these videos is incredible! Well done! I grew up in the ‘90s. I loved Celine, I thought it was a bit weird she married her manager (though I think Mariah Carey married hers too, though they got divorced later). The older I get, the creepier the relationship between Celine and Renee looks. I don’t think he ever did anything to her physically as a child, but your video makes it clear that he was a man who liked to control - and she was a child, then a girl, then a woman - who felt comfortable being controlled, though she’d never use that word. She’s always been looked after; first her family, then Renee. I was astonished that her parents and family didn’t seem to think school was important for her! They failed her on a certain level. The last quote from her is heartbreaking: a middle aged woman who’s never made big decisions for herself in her life, sounds lost. Because she is. I love her talent, but as a person, I feel sorry for her. I don’t think she had a chance to really grow.

[@betheecommentator]

Welcome! I’m so glad you found my channel and enjoy my content!!! Thank you!!! Me too, I love Celine, huge fan of hers. I agree, she’s always been looked after. It’s a shame because I think that after his passing she really has to “grow up” in a sense and do things she never had to do because she relied on Rene so much. There was an interview where she was asked if she was too dependent on him and she said no.

[@christineperez7562]

School is not for everyone. She was educated in other ways that matter.

[@-chloe-8728]

i’m a quebecoise and i remember when i was in highschool, their relationship was so romanticized that when we did a presentation on her, i was made to sugarcoat their relationship in a mock interview by all my teammates. i played her and i had to make excuses for a relationship i knew was wrong. it’s still taboo to bring it up around certain generations here.

[@betheecommentator]

Wow 😯

[@cynthiarobinson1730]

Renee was old enough to be her grandfather when she was a child just sickening😢

[@passatboi]

In the movie Love Again, Céline even says that she had a crush on Seal in the late 80s and wanted to do a duet with him. René found out and made sure Seal "wasn't available". She said he lied to her and then confessed. Fits the profile. However, I've had people 20 years younger interested in me, too. It happens.People are so judgmental about age differences. But May-December relationships happen all the time.

[@samanthaschumacher615]

Wow! Another really insightful and thought provoking video. Thank you! It never really sits right with me when parents push their kids into show biz. I’m sure Celine loves music as much as she says she does, but I also wonder if she felt like she had to do it to please her mother (especially considering the complexities of their relationship and her guilt for literally being born). It seems the only person who had her absolute best interest in mind was her first manager who wanted her to stay in school and have a balanced life as a child. Biggest takeaway for me is that finding success in the entertainment industry is impossible without exploitation and that’s why children really shouldn’t be in it.

[@betheecommentator]

Oh wow thank you so much for your feedback, I’m so glad you liked it!! You brought up some great questions I wondered as well. You are spot on I feel in your observation and conclusion. The entertainment industry, Hollywood etc…is a scary, toxic environment. And like you said it’s filled with exploitation.

[@McQuizzical]

Spot on, on all points

[@mariannemarek6683]

You must realize everyone has to grow up before they die. He ran her life and then she had to grow up when he died. If you don't develop the skills when you are younger it is harder to develop when you are older.

[@betheecommentator]

That’s a good point

[@shivalishankersharma1562]

I had always thought about this ever since she came on Oprah many years ago where she disclosed that she was 13 when she met Rene. And was shocked that there was no reaction from Oprah (who was considered incredibly woke in the early 2000s) and her audience. I now believe she just chose to ignore the fact that it was creepy as hell.

[@betheecommentator]

I agree, I felt like a lot of people chose not to comment on it. Even in the Barbara Walters interview that I inserted in this episode you can see Barbara’s face, she’s thinking something that she’s not saying. At least that’s what I saw.

[@MTknitter22]

But also remember Celine is libertine andFrench as hell, anyone shocked at the morality of it would not faze her. Sad really.

[@NycBeauty]

Oprah was friend with Weinste!n. She knows what’s up.

[@laurenmay2098]

Oprah is an opportunist, she has no morals, IMO.

[@NycBeauty]

@@laurenmay2098 I agree ✅

[@krystinaland4137]

Renee learned from losing genette to become the lover of the artist because the influence is so great on that artist. Smh

[@Bigbaymonstermare]

You rock as I always tell you. As a Canadian, this interests me (especially because I’m so homesick living in the U.K.) and as always so thorough and you knocked it out of the park. I was never convinced that it wasn’t grooming. It’s one thing to meet later in life (I’ve been with my second husband 11 years, and I was 28 when we met and he was 40, but we were grown ass adults) but it always made me feel funny how they started out. Grooming or not, she certainly struggled after he died. Her weight is troubling.

[@betheecommentator]

Oh wow!! Thank you so much for watching. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I think it’s important for people to understand that grooming can be very subtle it doesn’t always have to be blatant. Unfortunately Rene had a lot of control and influence on her at such a young age. Like you said it’s different to meet as adults and have an age gap relationship. Completely different. As always, thanks so much for your support ❤️❤️

[@Kiefsti]

Aww, homesick? Where in Canada were you from? Today Alberta was sunny, about +1C, and so calm. Really quite lovely! But I'm low-key jealous you're in UK 😏

[@Bigbaymonstermare]

@@Kiefsti I love both countries. I lived in Calgary for a year and it was like I was coming home. I loved every second of it. I’m from Ottawa. We lived in Essex for a long time, but now in Somerset outside Bath, my favourite city in the U.K. It is different - it is the only place in the world where the entire city is a UNESCO heritage site! We are a 35-40 minute drive to Stonehenge and I love to go in the only natural hot springs at the spa in Bath. Cheddar caves are amazing and Wells near us is where Hot Fuzz was filmed. I’m super fortunate to have lived here and in Canada. *An important note for you* : I get asked all the time here by people “why did you come here, Canada is so much more awesome!” And friends in Canada say “wow, England…you’re so lucky!” My advice! Play tourist in your home town. I bet there are lots of places tourists visit to see. Go to everything you can to in your town/city/area and appreciate it. Travelling means I get to see lots and I realised what I had been missing out on (although, using s instead of z in words like the aforementioned “realised” is still weird to me) and I learned I didn’t know my home town and Ottawa until I met my second husband and him being English he had been to Ottawa and Montreal a lot but I planned excursions for him and his team (we worked for the same company and this was our first meeting when I planned all sorts to have fun) and it was amazing. Play tourist in your own hometown. The people aren’t as friendly here. And I always say to people that: It is very different to live in a new country when your previous experiences have only been as a tourist. Playing tourist and living there are so different. For me, it was the people. But I know how lucky I am. Bath is gorgeous

[@Kiefsti]

@@Bigbaymonstermare Oh wow! I read this twice, and have saved it to read again. You just came out and dropped more information than a tour guide! Honestly, you sound like a fascinating person and I'm taking your advice. The only thing I have to share, is Calgary is -22°C and blizzarding snow today, so you truly are in a better local 🤣

[@MS-bs8dd]

You mentioned weight, it’s hard to hear what she’s most recently going through, it sounds more serious than weight, tho not to minimize that, and I really hope she has a breakthrough and gets through it.

[@nicoleackerman205]

As a kid I thought it was super weird that she was married to and old guy. I did not realize that he was her manager until I was older.

[@pigletphilosophy8057]

God… I have been following Celine since I was 8 and to be honest I never thought about grooming despite graduating from psychology. That makes so much sense. Thanks for the video

[@sarahover6576]

Absolutely love how you put together your videos. Every single one is well thought out, expertly told, and gives me, the viewer information to make my own decision. Exactly what you intend. Thank you!

[@betheecommentator]

Awww that’s perfect!! I’m so glad you enjoy my content and style and I REALLY appreciate your support and feedback ❤️❤️

[@Nille0212]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾Wow, BE!!! You've done it again!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 I've said before that I'm running out of compliments and you're making it hard to find new words to describe how great your work truly is, and that's saying something for someone with a background in English lol. But I'm just floored with this story. I was a semi-fan of Celine in the 90s and I was taken aback to find out her manager, who was a creepy old guy to me, had married her! I had no clue that it ran this deep and he basically had totally controlled her life from the age 12.😱😱😱 That's scary! Why'd her parents allow him so much control? Where was the mom who wanted to go EVERYWHERE with her while he's grooming her teenage daughter? Her parents failed her IMO. I feel sorry for her. It's tragic that she was basically secluded from everyone else in the world outside of the creepy old guy. She was middle aged before she ever knew what life outside of his influence. That really saddens me for her.

[@betheecommentator]

Awww THANK YOU!!!!! I’ll take any compliment you want to give ☺️☺️ I agree, I didn’t realize how much influence he had over her. Growing up in the 90s and as a huge Celine fan, it was always spoken about in such a romantic, fairy tale type way I didn’t think much of it. Now, as an adult, it’s very different that what I thought it to be as a child.

[@maggiegilbert412]

You only briefly mentioned this, but the “secret hand signals” they would use while she was being interviewed really struck me. Somehow it reminded me of DeeDee Blanchard and her daughter Gypsy (I’m sure you are familiar with the story; The Act on Hulu is about it). DeeDee *Always* held Gypsys hand when talking to doctors, neighbors, or media. She quite literally had a tight grip on her daughter so she wouldn’t say something that didn’t fit in with the act. Celine having a signal with Rene while she was being interviewed makes me feel like he wanted to always be in control. Like you can talk on camera Celine, but you have to check in with me via hand signals. I’m watching you and you better be aware of it.

[@lovelyandsmartcommentator5130]

Celine collapsed after his death. She became malnourished and later plagued with painful muscle cramps. She now has little bodily flexibility. She never was the same.

[@erinl1265]

I remember even back when their love story came out in the 90s and it was weird to me even then. We didn't call it grooming but I definitely thought it was weird. I loved her and her voice and was a little sad that someone so young and talented would throw all those young years away on an older man.

[@nicholefrische-delaney7431]

Yet another excellent video! The amount of research you do is incredible. I especially appreciate the fact that you include stories that aren't necessarily "trending" right now. I always thought this relationship was strange.

[@betheecommentator]

Oh wow thank you so so much!!! And you’re welcome, it’s my pleasure. I really enjoy doing older stories especially to see how much society or culture has changed compared to the time period we discuss in the older stories. It’s fascinating to me

[@Rae_777]

It’s scary to hear about Rene’s physical abuse of Anne-Renee. Worries me that men who can strike ANY woman will typically strike every woman, or at least physically intimidate their partners. Particularly if you view your “partner” as a child or object, abuse is even easier. I hope that didn’t happen to Celine. 😢

[@satsumamoon]

maybe he did a really good job at training her to behave how he expec ted so he never needed to be violent in order to exert control?

[@Imanina-kh1ju]

@@satsumamoon tbh this might be the case. She's too dependent on him to disobey the guy

[@c.w.8200]

As a child I was utterly confused by this, my mom was a fan and we listened to her music often and suddenly I see this picture in the news and think: Did she marry her grandpa?

[@beasleyben9191]

I will comment before watching this video. Celine Dion absolutely adored and loved Rene! We will never ever know Rene because he was not so out spoken as celine. But he truly took care of her and took chances on her in the early years. Was it an ideal situation.. no the age difference is not ideal But love is love and the heart feels what it feels. I do not know if Rene was faithful or not but I hope to God that he was! Celine is a one of a kind! I pray for her to be healed by Gods hands and to live a happy healthy pain free life being able to do what ever she wants. Remember when posting that these famous people have family and friends and they really do not deserve to be seeing negative and hurtful comments. Much love and respect to Celine Dion!!

[@betheecommentator]

Thanks for commenting you made some great points. Once you finish it please free to weigh in, if you’d like. Celine is one of my favorite artists, love her ❤️

[@lastlyfirstofall2833]

I know he invested time and a lot money but he is a high roller and knew he’d hit the mega jackpot with her eventually. Im sure he played her like a fiddle while underage, but I don’t think would’ve married her though if her first English album had flopped in 89. So she says they supposedly got romantic in 88 while she was getting noticed (and eventually won ) on Eurovision 88. Says alot about him doesn’t it?

[@betheecommentator]

Hmmmm very interesting

[@annedonker4795]

great point. such a calculated user he was! also i never realized celine won the eurovision at all? she was canadian so how was she allowed to participate? much of her story makes no sense to us mere mortals i guess

[@timmy841212]

And she was a Canadian that supposedly entered Switzerland for Eurovision ‘88. Yeah that is bizarre.

[@Syl-yi8jp]

This is amazing research, very professional, and better than many documentaries I have seen on Television.

[@tjc2993]

Good job! I love how you go back to the subject’s childhood and history. It brings so much in perspective.

[@betheecommentator]

Thank you so much!! I agree it brings it all together and gives a better understanding! I appreciate your support and feedback

[@love_fleurette]

Notice how they kept calling her a woman when she was a teenager.

[@jennybaby9210]

Sis we still wanna see part 2 of that Jon and Kate story you ate that up i been checking ya page everyday. Thank you

[@betheecommentator]

That is the next video that will be out, it’s coming I promise and it’ll be good!! I appreciate your support!! ❤️❤️

[@MichylaGreene]

Do we really think they waited until Celine was of age to get physical? Because I don’t

[@mariaari8513]

Sofia Loren was going out with the man who became her husband when she was 15.

[@MsArnone]

I don't believe it either

[@MsArnone]

She told Rene in Dublin she wanted to be with him... people should read her book "My story, my dream"

[@susanhardwick8047]

Her voice is amazeing her story about her life was also sad I believe meeting rene was the best thing that ever happened to her Ioved there story of love ❤❤❤❤❤

[@Jess-zf3ve]

Another amazing video by BE!! The variety in the subjects you choose is incredible. Everything you cover like the TLC clans of jon&kate/duggars, or the grooming of the French president, or the horrific entertainment/celebrity history like this video, I love all your content! Looking forward to the next :)

[@betheecommentator]

Awww thank you so so so much!!! This is very encouraging, I’m so glad you enjoy the topics we’ve covered and I look forward to making more content for you all ❤️❤️

[@lisanidog8178]

That’s funny. My brother called him. With such a big family I giggled and thought which one! LOL! I always liked Celine, she’s got a glow about her. To me she’s like the Canadian version of Barbara Streisand. Both have powerful voices and stage presence. And great lung capacity to be able to belt things out and hold notes. Celine seems like the type you’d love to have lunch with.

[@Letmebe_2363]

She was so close to his wife! 😭

[@betheecommentator]

They were very close

[@MTknitter22]

Yes the mother could not see anything but whatever made her daughter a star. She and her husband never saw anything sinister about Rene because they didn’t want to. Money and stardom was all those around Celine were concentrating on!!

[@jendamum]

Excellent post!! This really contained so much information that I wasn't aware of previously and gave me a new perspective on their relationship. Outstanding work, thank you!

[@betheecommentator]

You’re welcome!! I’m glad you enjoyed it and learned some new information

[@tracyfun6918]

i hope she finds love, she deserves it and seems like such a genuine woman. shes to young to be spending the rest of her life mourning him

[@LilyGazou]

She has a rare and terminal condition that is a challenge to her career. I don’t know if she is thinking about romance.

[@tracyfun6918]

@@LilyGazou there's nothing wrong with finding happiness after.

[@rhonnichan]

I just love your channel. You do amazing research and your voice is very soothing. I work overnights at a hotel, i love listening to you while doing my papers and typing my emails. Please continue your work ❤

[@betheecommentator]

Awww thank you!!! I really appreciate your feedback and compliments and am glad my videos can offer some comfort while you’re working!!! Thank you ❤️☺️❤️☺️

[@ashaadisa521]

absolutely loved this! always wanted to know more about this dynamic

[@betheecommentator]

Thank you so much for watching!! I’m glad you enjoyed it

[@jaycruzjr4822]

This was Netflix level good. Documentary style vids are your thing. Great Job.

[@betheecommentator]

Wow thank you so much!! It means a lot, thank you!!

[@cometasporelcielo]

Can we say how messed up it is that he had his wife turn her into his pretty puppet for him? then dumped his wife for a child?

[@dzxn3728]

My late H was 17 years older than me & I always felt their story was an inspiration for my own May/December relationship....but the widowhood makes me think again. Also the grooming. We are innocent when we fall in love, but the adults shouldn't put us in situations where falling in love with them would be so easy. It's their responsibility, not the youth. When my husband died I was 25 & I didn't know how to pay the taxes and am constantly anxious to lose what I inherited for our kids. Taxes suck. I don't get it. Plus I'm an intelligence veteran who served during Snowden so I have bananas high PTSD about the current goings on... ...anyway I am a huge Celine Dion fan & desperately love & miss my H but I guess a truer love might have wanted a better life for me....but I don't want to question it because of our kids :( So I became a poet (it doesn't pay) because my life is like a long tragic poem.

[@strongmokus]

Sounds more like you are an introvert.

[@kimsunny4778]

It’s sad and tragic but you made it sound funny. It’s just part of our destiny.

[@rmc169]

I think it makes it different when you meet someone older than you and to know someone way older than you when you are a child and have a relationship and then get with them.

[@eyetrollin710]

Your husband died when you were 25,, and you already had a few kids,, yeah honey I'm sorry but maybe you should talk to a doctor about the things you've been through in your life,, quite frankly I'm not surprised that you didn't understand anything about how to be an adult a grown up man found someone who was barely legal and controlled every aspect of Your World,,, and he made you think that he was taking care of you and you were in love, probably better that he passed before your kids for their friends became teenagers,, or he lost interest in you because you were approaching 30. I'm not saying this to be cruel grown men who seek barely legal women and do not enrich them do so for very specific purposes and it has nothing to do with love,, it's about exploitation regardless of whether or not you currently see it that way you should get some help for what you've been through Pro tip, a good man a mature intelligent strong wants a full grown intelligent woman,, a weak insecure male needs an uneducated child to control,,,

[@ForeverChiTonight]

I actually love your writing

[@lime7253]

The Dion's were the white Jacksons and Celine their Michael

[@ZackVieira]

You make great videos I want to say firstly. Thorough and painstaking. Much respect. Now my two cents. I’m a singer and songwriter and all I wanted as a child is what Celine wanted: a music career. I was in love with the craft and the journey. I gave so much for it. Only made it so far. But it’s a romantic journey and the people you do it with you absolutely fall in love with. There’s a very special place in one’s heart for the people (whether a band, a partner, a producer, etc) that take they journey with you. All the ups and downs, the push and drive to reach greatness (to create magic). When I first leaned about Rene and Celine, sure I was weirded out by it. But after watching this video I’ve changed my mind. Sure she lived in a bubble of her music career, but I think she loved that bubble. Of course he groomed her … as an artist. But not as a lover. Those are her feelings. I don’t think she’d been brainwashed or manipulated. Haven’t u ever fallen in love with an older cousin? It’s totally taboo and yet it’s totally common. She loved him and then she became a woman and was in love with him. She was happy. That’s it. No judgement required.

[@betheecommentator]

Thank you so much for watching as well as your well thought out comment! I really enjoyed reading it. Their relationship and the nature of it has always been a hot topic and like you said in some ways, taboo because of how they met and how the relationship developed into what it became. I can definitely see your point in regards to how, on this journey, it is intimate and very easy for people to develop very deep bonds. Rene’s band member John even said that “it makes sense how they fell in love”. Music is a vibration, energy, and again I can see how this process can bring people together. When it comes to my content I try to give the audience enough space to form their own conclusions so I don’t share my opinion just simply tell the story, how it unfolded, our subjects words (quotes) and those around them. To answer your question I’ve never fallen in love with an older cousin but I have admired some. In my personal opinion, I have zero issues with age gap relationships, as I have a lot of them in my own family, a lot. I believe in love wholeheartedly. Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with us and I wish you the absolute BEST on your journey. If you ever want to share your music, a link with us please feel free to ❤️❤️

[@-_YouMayFind_-]

She won't have worried so much about her looks if she wasn't in a career like that. They want you to look beautiful. I feel like she never did what SHE wanted. She did what HE wanted, but that could just be me. She herself literally said that after he died she had these thoughts: what would he think of this what he.

[@whooptydoo5940]

gosh I still have those thoughts about my mother that passed 10yrs ago. And I am 60. What is wrong with that thought process? I respected, loved, and cared for my darling mother right to the end. I would like to think that she would approve and be proud of any decisions I have had to make since her passing. Renee no longer here to control her, yet she was going on a world tour, until sickness took over. How was she being forced into what HE wanted, She wanted her dream fulfilled. He did just that.

[@jesswhycamarz]

You’re a great journalist! I’ve watched about 4 of your videos today and your storytelling is thorough, unbiased and insightful. I’m a writer, thanks for inspiring me. I saw you mention having a health flare up and I hope you’re doing well. I have chronic pain and can relate to having to write and research when my body and mind are showing me mercy lol looking forward to what you share with us next. 💜

[@taracat7723]

As usual..you hit it out of the park again with this one.

[@betheecommentator]

Thank you so much!! I’m glad you liked it, any requests or anything you would like me to cover?

[@epark4133]

🎉celine is strong and smart lady, she saying she deciced to marry him.

[@katherine.km154]

Whether he groomed her or not… the fact remains the same. He treated and loved Celine very much. He cultivated her talent and helped her become one of the greatest singers of our time. Also, Celine loved him very much. It was a 2-way relationship. You love who you love. We can’t say the same for Didi and Justin or Usher. No comparison.

[@risenshine888]

@katherine.km154 then you don't understand what grooming is. You will no doubt be happy when people who are attracted to minors is legal.

[@BlackCoffeeee]

I'm so sorry for Celine. She was a vulnerable kid, used as a cash cow. In some ways, I'd hope that she never realises that her fairytale love was an abuser who made money off her back. It's probably better for her to keep believing the dream.

[@McQuizzical]

I've had this thought too. But I suspect there are cracks she'll find difficult to paper over. My heart goes out to her.

[@pink4078]

My exact thought. She was just income to him. Nothing else.

[@BluetheRaccoon]

Perhaps overbearing presence would have been better for Renee than "oppressive silence". I guess his father still set the standard for him with his parents' age difference.

[@betheecommentator]

Good point! Every video/topic I cover I discuss it with my family first and that was something we talked about as well; his parents age gap. But in those times wasn’t that pretty common? Older man younger woman?

[@annfisher8256]

This is the best KZbin channel FOR SURE !!

[@betheecommentator]

Oh wow!!! Thank you SO MUCH❤️

[@kaydenpat]

Before this video, I never thought much about their age difference since I have an Aunt in a long term marriage whose husband is 20 + years older than her. I think the issue is when he met her and how he manipulated her entire family and then began the romance. Not a fairytale but a cautionary tale.

[@shooshoo9366]

I think she honestly loved him. If he would have rejected her I think she would still have pursued him. The love she had for him is so obvious up until he died.

[@vickienna_games]

Yes she did love him, but we also must take into consideration she had no exposure to people her age to pursue. Of course she would fall in love with the one and only man in her life who was constantly around her and also allowing her to live her dream.

[@unicornglitterfart5201]

Have you ever seen tourists who fall in love with the food the first time they visit another country? They try something they never knew existed and it quickly replaces their current favorite food, a traditional dish in their native land. They were never exposed to food outside of their cultural cuisine so they develop a taste for what’s available to them. Celine was only ever exposed to Rene instead of boys her own age. She wasn’t given the opportunity to explore typical dating with men in her age group who were in the same place in life as her. She was only exposed to curry and not allowed to experience seafood and bacon cheeseburgers. Of course she would fall in love with Rene. She was raised by him to see him as the only possible romantic partner.

[@SY-ok2dq]

She grew up as the much younger, youngest child of a very large family. So in her home and also in her early working life, singing in restaurants etc., Celine as a child, was surrounded all the time by people much older than her. And this made her act more adult and mature, and also to be far more comfortable with adults and authority figures who were far older than her. Quite naturally, when Rene became her manager/Svengali figure, and he took control of her professional and also, in many regards, her personal life and development from the age of 13, and they spent all that time together, Celine developed romantic feelings for Rene. She felt comfortable and secure around adults, around those much older than her. But she felt uncomfortable, insecure, ostracized, by her school peers. Naturally she'd fall for Rene, under those conditions. He was nurturing her career. He devoted all this time, effort and energy towards Celine and her career. He was a charming and sophisticated and educated and worldly - all things that Celine and her parents were not - man, with lots of experience and success in the music industry. And he was helping her. And Celine was always around him, and not around her peers or even other older (but younger than Rene) men. It's not surprising she developed strong feelings for Rene. As for Rene, I believe he was heavily invested in Celine the outstanding singer and star, and in the success that he could achieve through her. But I doubt he was ever attracted to Celine the ordinary looking girl, as a romantic interest. It was her star potential and for him, the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to wield power over that star talent, and to achieve greatness. Without that voice, Celine was of zero interest to him, I'm sure. On some level, I think he probably did fall in love with Celine, just based on all the time he'd spent with her and all the energy he'd invested, and because she was a sweet and obedient girl who greatly admired him. But mostly, I think he loved this creation of his, this dazzling talent that HE had polished and promoted. The star that HE had made shine even more brightly. And of course, if she fell in love with him and the got married, well he'd have even more control. No boyfriend would steal away his big star again, the way it happened with his previous star, Ginette.

[@rikacanon87]

So, I think its time we talk about how Hollywood is okay with Woody Allen's adopted daugther being his full on wife with children.

[@akturus5283]

Soon-Yi Previn was never Woody Allen's adopted daughter, but okay.

[@jeniestra.]

@@akturus5283 that's not the point, she was a child when they met. He was basically raising her, that's disturbing.

[@jeniestra.]

@E Boston He didn't live with them but was constantly at their house and she was a kid. You don't find that disturbing? Yikes. Imagine a friend of yours wants to marry your daughter. I'm sure you'll be fine with that.

[@jeniestra.]

@E Boston I get it, you don't find creepy at all that an old man who saw her grow up wanted to marry her. Once again, I'm sure you'll be more than happy If that happens with your daughter. Good for you.

[@Imanina-kh1ju]

@@jeniestra. yk what, i don't think this e boston person would care abt their children wellbeing. As long as the man is rich, they would enable anything he did... Smh

[@Liz-be1wq]

Your videos are so captivating and open up so many conversations most don't talk about. Can't wait for more.

[@betheecommentator]

Thank you SO much!! You totally GET my channel. It’s for discourse to have these conversations! I appreciate your support and making more content that you’ll enjoy ❤️

[@joygernautm6641]

It’s all very biblical. The Bible condones grooming, 100%. It’s disgusting. Just because a man marries a woman he raped or molested doesn’t make everything “OK”. Just because a teenage girl is seduced by an older man and “wants him” doesn’t mean it’s all ok. When I was 13 and first entering puberty, I had a huge crush on my music teacher. I used to draw hearts in my diary with his name, and my name in it. I would linger after class, asking questions just to talk to him. If he had made a move to kiss me or have sexual contact, I probably would have been completely willing. Does that make it OK? No. He was a grown man in his 20s. If a minor flirts with you and wants sexual contact with you you shut that shit down it’s not a green light to go.

[@betheecommentator]

Very GOOD comment!!! thank you for sharing your perspective on this topic!!

[@TemporaryTemporary-y2j]

The people defending the nature of the relationship as if they would allow their thirteen year old daughters/sons to be around a 30year old man/woman... What else would the younger person in such a relationship believe (mistakenly) except that it was true love? And then some may claim "at least they started officially dating/got married only at a later date when they became of age." They had no other choice because it had been set up that way: they had been groomed! Just because it may have been accepted/allowed by the parent, or accepted by society at some point in time doesn't make it right. As an analogy: child marriage in certain parts of India/sati (self-immolation at the death of the husband) was once quite common until some good people worked hard to abolish those practices. There's nothing romantic about grooming.

[@catsara9114]

Celine: "...I just became a grown up child ..." 😶 These few words, though.

[@betheecommentator]

You are the only one that caught that. I’ve been waiting to see if anyone would. Says a lot doesn’t it?

[@DebbieMason]

That stuck out to me too.

[@Suz1]

@@betheecommentator And then he corrects her, tells her that she *wasn't* a child, and she immediately agrees😣

[@betheecommentator]

@@Suz1 yes I remember that!

[@MTknitter22]

And and he molded her, she had a lot of plastic surgery and then her voice made tens of millions. The money affected Celine and everyone around her. She has provided jobs and full support for the entire large family.

[@vickywootton1294]

She was his meal ticket and he was not about to risk losing her