Taylor Swift's public relations team reportedly took swift action to mitigate the fallout from an incident at the Grammy Awards, where the pop superstar was accused of overlooking Celine Dion during the ceremony.
According to sources, Swift's team hastily arranged a backstage photo opportunity with Dion to counteract the negative perception created when Swift, 34, seemingly disregarded the 55-year-old Dion after receiving the Album of the Year award.
Matthew Belloni, a seasoned observer of Hollywood's inner workings and co-founder of Puck, shared insights into the situation on his podcast, "The Town with Matthew Belloni." "The Taylor camp knew immediately this is a misstep," Belloni revealed, highlighting the swift action taken by Swift's team to mitigate the fallout. "They were scrambling to get a photo of Taylor with Celine Dion, which they promptly put out, and that was damage control for the 'Celine Moment.'"
Taylor Swift just took the album of the year trophy from Celine Dion without batting an eye and/or acknowledging that a legendary was handing her the award
That was So cringey for my soul#GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/wawuXyCaPF — RanaJi (@RanaTells) February 5, 2024
The subsequent release of photographs depicting Swift and Dion in a seemingly amicable embrace backstage at the Grammys appeared to be a strategic move by Swift's team to quell the brewing storm. However, the rapid dissemination of these images raised suspicions among some, including Montreal Gazette music columnist Brendan Kelly. "For the Swifties, this was case closed," Kelly noted, questioning the authenticity of the reconciliation. "To more objective observers - OK, to this Team Céline observer - the rapid-fire release of the photo smelled big time of Team Swift going into full-scale damage-control mode." The incident, now referred to by some as "Le Snub," sparked a firestorm of criticism on social media platforms, with fans and detractors alike weighing in on Swift's perceived oversight. "Taylor dragged Lana (who just lost the award) on stage when she CLEARLY didn't want to go, and then didn't say a WORD to Celine f------ Dion when she took the award? I hope the next album flops," one irate fan posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Celine Dion and Taylor Swift backstage at the #GRAMMYs. pic.twitter.com/cCHxfgzJ89 — Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) February 5, 2024
In contrast, Swift's defenders pointed to her standing ovation for Dion as she took the stage, suggesting that Swift had indeed paid homage to the Canadian songstress in her own way. Yet, the lack of a direct acknowledgment during the award acceptance left many feeling that Swift had missed a crucial moment to honor Dion publicly.
Amidst the controversy, Swift's approach to the situation stands in stark contrast to Adele's interaction with Dion at a previous Grammy ceremony, where Adele bowed respectfully and embraced Dion warmly. This comparison only served to amplify the criticism directed at Swift, with many questioning the motivations behind her actions.
As Swift navigates the choppy waters of public opinion, the incident at the Grammys underscores the challenges faced by celebrities in maintaining their public personas amidst the ever-watchful eye of the media and their fan base. Swift's team's response to "Le Snub" reveals the intricate dance of public relations in the modern entertainment industry, where every action is scrutinized, and every misstep has the potential to become a full-blown crisis.
