These are some photos of Celine Dion with her gentleman friend Pepe Munoz during the most recent Paris Fashion Week. I wondered, weeks ago, if Pepe would be there and look, there he was. Pepe has been on Celine’s arm more and more lately, and she tried to explain their relationship several months ago. No one knows if they’re lovers or BFFs. Well, Page Six has some answers. Sort of. According to Page Six’s sources, Pepe is definitely gay, but he and Celine have a weird sort of relationship where he’s super-controlling? It’s like Will & Grace, but DARK.
Céline Dion’s inner circle fears that her “best pal,” backup dancer Pepe Muñoz, has too much influence over the singer since her husband, René Angélil, passed away in 2016.
“Pepe is like her boy toy who is really trying to take over. He’s isolating her and people are feeling it. She’s in love with this guy and listens to everything he’s saying. People go to him when they have questions. He’s fully taken over. The only people around her now [are] Pepe, the hairdresser and the stylist,” one source told Page Six.
Multiple sources told us Pepe — who’s also Dion’s creative director — helped orchestrate the exit of some of Dion’s senior team, including former stylist Law Roach. Another source, who is close to the star, says it’s the “farthest from the truth.”
“He’s an amazing inspiration for her. He’s inspiring her to take risks. It’s not a bad thing. He’s not managing her. People change their teams. She’s smart and at the helm of her career. She’s calling the shots now,” the insider said.
“It’s crazy. She knows he’s gay and is accepting of it. She needs someone close to her and she fell in love. He’s turned into a René type,” the first source said Another insider added, “People are freaked out by it. He has this clique that he keeps very small. It’s Céline, himself, a hair person and the stylist. That’s the group — even management goes to him when they need something.”
“She knows he’s gay and is accepting of it” and “She’s in love with this guy and listens to everything he’s saying.” I mean… what’s really happening, emotionally? Is she IN love with Pepe or does she love him as a best friend? And which is the more dangerous option? I feel like Celine was basically just lonely and she wanted to feel alive and free after Rene’s passing, so that’s why Pepe came into her life. But old habits die hard – Celine probably feels most comfortable when she’s in a familiar pattern of being “managed” by a man. I don’t know, that’s just my armchair diagnosis for what’s happening. And at this point, what’s so important in her life that she needs anyone else besides Pepe, the hairdresser and the stylist??
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
I have NEVA said this on a blog in my life…
But…
I am CONCERNED…about Celine’s weight..
Yes, I doubt being able to count every rib and tendon in a person’s chest and neck is indicating a healthy weight. 🙁
I agree. I’m not a fan of concern-trolling, but she looks truly unwell. I love her so much, she is such a treasure, and I want her to be around for a long time.
No argument here.
I agree and she did comment on it saying that yes she is thinner than what is normal for her but is OK and dealing with it.
As for Pepe, yeah I can see him taking over. Her whole life has been controlled by a man, Renee pretty much did everything. If he is cutting off friends and family then its a major red flag that he is basically going to rob her blind. I hope she see’s sense and puts him in his place.
Me neither but it’s hard to ignore. I’m glad if she’s ok. She could just be sad and stressed. I know it’s really hard for me to eat when I feel like that.
I agree she just doesn’t look good.
Celine has gone from control to control to control: from her father’s home, to Reneé, and now to this Pepe (sorry, can’t help but visualize Pepe Le Peu lol). This IS all she knows/may be comfortable with. If this Pepe is curtailing friends and family access to be her “everything”, this is a HUGE red flag.
And I agree with you, Lala, her weight has dropped alarmingly, and not just because of grief. She has *always* been very slim, but now she’s almost skeletal. It *is* alarming.
That’s why I CANNOT get excited about her fashion drama…and I LIVE FOR FASHION DRAMA…but NOT when the fashions are being worn by someone that trips my intuition switch…and I’m looking at high fashion covering a life or death struggle….and I’m not being hyperbolic about this either….someone needs to do something…….
You have to also remember that the camera adds 10-15 lbs. She probably looks MUCH thinner in real life which…yeah, not good.
“a familiar pattern of being “managed” by a man”
This all day long, she first met her manager/husband when she was 12 and he was 38, she knows no other life. She needs serious help, she is what I would consider a “groomed” adult, I can think of no other way to describe that but basically groomed as child and now trying to navigate adulthood with that same child mindset.
I always feel a little sick when people refer to her previous relationship as some sort of amazing love story; I can only remember that she was a child.
THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Exactly she was only 19 when they started (yeah right) a personal relationship, even if true and while 19 is legally an adult, he was 46, he watched her grow up and was a parental figure to her in my view, it is all kinds of messed up.
yes!!! I made this comment once on another celine dion article on celebitchy and someone went awf? and I had to explain that just because they were together for a long time, doesn’t undo that things were abusive and he was grooming her from the start.
Yes Zapp you said it all. I have always been creeped out by her “love” story of her and Rene.
Her weight is a bit frightening for sure, but all this PR about her being in love with this guy is so ridiculous. Celine is gay. She has had a girlfriend for the last 25 years at least. She has obviously made the decision not to come out and I think the press constantly playing up this fantasy marriage and fantasy relationships is totally unnecessary. She is a wonderful talent. Who cares if she comes out? Not me.
I completely agree with your armchair assessment. My sofa diagnosis is, and has always been, Celine needs to be told. Since her husband’s death, her exuberance always felt over-the-top. Like, “Hey look at me, I’ve been through the seven stages, I’m so healthy, I’m really happy to be alive!!! Really really really sososo HAPPY!!!!!” Nope. Everything that adorns her is huge, all-encompassing and loud and yeah, probably controlling, confining and ‘gated.’ She’s compensating in loud, in your face ways, but she’d rather follow someone in charge of all her calendar crap. I can’t imagine having all the money in the world and losing the presence in your life that made you who you are. She’s lost.
Don’t go crazy y’all lol. I obviously don’t know a damn thing and only speculating! 😀
“And at this point, what’s so important in her life that she needs anyone else besides Pepe, the hairdresser and the stylist??“
Her children?
+1
Her family? Her career? Her effing fortune that others might be interested in getting their hands on?
But as long as her clothing and hair are on point, gal’s got no worries? Seriously put off by this statement.
Britney didn’t have a lot going on career wise when Sam Lutfi slithered his way in and caused a lot of financial and emotional damage. Yes, she had more mental health issues but Celine is also vulnerable. Pushing out people that care for her and have her best interest at heart is asign of abusive behavior no matter her career status.
I think Kaiser meant that in the context of her “entourage” She “may” not be touring as much or have as much engagements as before (sans her Vegas Residency) so she does not need much of a “team” besides Pepe, the hairdresser and the stylist since her schedule is not too busy..
I’m not trying to weight shame anyone, but my god, she’s starting to look skeletal. She’s always been a thin person, but this is next level, to the point of emaciation. Celine has always had someone directing and controlling her life. It probably feels natural, even though it is incredibly unhealthy. If this man is really trying to isolate her from her family and friends, they need to intervene now.
Most of the CB readers generally saw Céline and Renee’s marriage as romantic, us Quebecois know – I won’t say better but different. Her stage mom managed her until Renee took an interest, then she was groomed and transformed into a star. Yes, Renee was a fantastic manager and yes he mortgaged his home to get her surgeries and coaches and English tutors. He also reaped the many millions in benefits, married a woman child younger than his grown up sons (he was older than her dad) and managed the finances throughout. Céline is many things but educated and savvy is not one of them. I assume Renee would have ensured that her money and the kids’ portions are well protected but this guy is definitely shady if indeed she is surrounded just by him, and two other hand picked aides. For one, her family used to be incredibly involved in her life and the business- she never had hired nannies, her sisters took care of her kids, her aunts ran the house etc. (Big catholic French Canadian family, all the kids were in show biz as kids since that was her mom’s dream, the first plan was to have a Dion kids band, etc.)
In short, I think it’s all very sad. She was never allowed to be her own person, always managed from behind the stage by Renee, so in all likelihood she just latched on to the first person who said or did the right things to impress her. His being gay most likely has no bearing on her. She never dated anyone except Renee and my feeling (with no proof whatsoever just observation) is that her interest in sex is very limited or non existent. As long as she has the attention and compliments and romantic gestures (or what a tween girl imagines to be romantic) she is happy. Her horrendous weight loss is a different story. I generally frown on weight related comments, and i’ll Only say I hope she has regular medical checkups from actual doctors (I mean as opposed to goop style healers).
Yeah was a good manager and by most accounts a good husband, I never heard of affairs but rumour was he had a serious gambling habit and thats one of the reason her residency was soo long. There relationship was no great romance and yeah it was creepy but they did seem to care about each other. I remember reading that before he died he made sure that the money was protected for her and the kids – he must have known that after he died she would be a target for people like this Pepe (if the stories are true).
Also, I CANNOT wait for her new album. Am soo looking forward to the Sia colabs.
Expressing concern about how frail she looks is hardly criticism.
The exit of Law Roach was a total red flag. WHO ISOLATES THE BIGGEST STYLIST IN THE GAME?! And now Pepe styles her. I’m not saying he’s terrible, but I’m just saying, Law would have died before sending Celine out in an “I Love Paris… Hilton” shirt.
The exit of Law Roach was a total red flag. WHO ISOLATES THE BIGGEST STYLIST IN THE GAME. And now Pepe styles her. I’m not saying he’s terrible, but I’m just saying, Law would have died before sending Celine out in an “I Love Paris… Hilton” shirt.
This makes me very sad and worried for her. Even money can’t necessarily help someone who has been groomed. ☹️
Every time I see her and how frail she is I get a Brooke Astor/Doris Duke vibe.
I’m old enough to remember seeing photos of Doris Duke being carried in & out of places by her chauffeur because her diet of Coca Cola only made her too weak to walk. I surely hope Celine doesn’t get to that point (if indeed she has a problem). I still think Celine is a naturally thin woman who is aging & this is what aging looks like.
I always feel a little sick when people refer to her previous relationship as some sort of amazing love story;