Media, public response to blame for cancelled Dion concert, says Angelil
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 | 8:55 PM AT
CBC News
Céline Dion's husband and manager Rene Angélil said negative media and public response to the Quebec-born singer is the reason a planned concert in Halifax was cancelled.
The concert promoter announced the Aug. 23 concert on the Halifax Common was cancelled late last week, saying the park was "not appropriate" for the singer's elaborate show and "would not be in the best interests" of fans.
Celine Dion and Rene Angelil married in 1994.
(Canadian Press)
However, during a phone interview with members of the Halifax media on Tuesday, Angélil blamed negative newspaper articles, radio call-in shows and online message boards.
"I'm gonna tell you something and I hope everyone is listening. Don't try to find any reasons for cancelling the concert. There's only one reason and you know what it is," he said.
"I'm not saying that all people in Halifax are negative, but … this is a question of feeling. We're humans. If you would go to a city and you read day after day … 'This is not the place for you, you shouldn't have come, I expected someone else,' I don't know how you would feel about going there."
Angélil singled out an article by Halifax Daily News columnist David Rodenhiser, who called the Dion concert a "letdown" and said he'd rather see a rock band perform. The article also praises Dion's career and says the concert is a great opportunity to build Halifax's reputation as a music venue.
Many of the comments posted on the newspaper's website in response to the column were negative toward Dion.
Angélil, who said he monitors worldwide media response to Dion on a daily basis, said he's astonished at the response from the Halifax media.
"We get negative reactions all the time when they review her records or shows. I mean, this is part of the game. But we never got negative reactions before an event," he said.
"Wait until she performs and then you can say whatever you want about Celine."
The Common in central Halifax has hosted the Pope and, more recently, the Rolling Stones, the first major concert to be held at the large park.
