Céline Dion's new Barbie doll sparks backlash as fans question singer's likeness

Céline Dion has been honored with a Barbie doll created in her likeness, following a triumphant year for the French-Canadian superstar.

The 58-year-old's doll was announced on Barbie's social media account on Wednesday, with the toy fashioned to recreate Céline's look from the Oscars in 1998, where she sang "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic and took home the award for Best Original Song.

The doll was dressed in a form-fitting navy gown with long sleeves, a high neckline and a lengthy train, paired with silver earrings and the famed Heart of the Ocean necklace from the 1997 film. Her hair was fashioned into a stylish updo.

"It is a true honour to join the Barbie legacy with a doll inspired by one of the most meaningful moments of my career," Céline said in a statement. 

"I hope this doll inspires everyone to express themselves with confidence, follow their dreams and believe in the power of their own voice."

Despite looking similar to the singer's 1998 look, many of her fans were less than satisfied with the likeness of the Barbie doll. "So sorry but she doesn't look like our Céline," one fan wrote on social media, while another added: "The face...I don't know." A third chimed in: "That is not Céline," while another said: "Who is that?"

Inside Céline Dion's comeback

The news comes just weeks after Céline returned to the stage for the first time since her performance at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games in 2024. 

She has been battling a rare autoimmune neurological disorder known as stiff person syndrome for several years, and has worked hard to be performance-ready once again.

Learn more about Céline's comeback below...

"I had promised myself not to cry," she told her fans during the opening show of her Paris residency on September 12. "But I'm so happy to see you all. I missed you. I'm going to sing like you without crying."

"Here we are. I'm standing on stage in this city that I love so much, thanks to your support and your love," she continued. 

"I have to admit, though, that the road was rocky. The journey was longer than expected, with unplanned stops along the way. But I hung in there. A faint ray of light in the distance, deep in the mountains. I believed in it. And here it is. The sun –the sun is here. The sun, right in front of me."

"I made a promise to be back on stage," Céline concluded. "So here I am, singing for you and singing for me, singing live! Thank you so very much for your support, your patience, and if I may say so, I am everything I am because you loved me."

What is stiff person syndrome?

The mother of three was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome in August 2022 and was forced to cancel her tour dates while she recovered. Symptoms of stiff person syndrome can include muscle stiffness, painful muscle spasms, and heightened sensitivity.

Céline shared insight into her daily life in 2024 while working with physical and vocal therapists to help her return to the stage.  

"It's like somebody is strangling you. It's like somebody is pushing your larynx/pharynx," she said on the Today show. "Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life…sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I'm used to."

"All I know is singing," she added. "It's what I've done all my life. And it's what I love to do the most."