Celine Dion's Son's Wedding: What Happened?

A viral video has been circulating on social media, claiming to show Canadian singer Celine Dion being assisted out of a wheelchair to dance with her son at his wedding. However, this is false. The video actually shows Kathy Poirier from Florida, who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, dancing with her son Zak at his wedding. The clip caused confusion due to Celine Dion's announcement in December 2022 that she had been diagnosed with Stiff-Person Syndrome (SPS), a rare neurological disorder. It's important to fact-check such claims and not spread misinformation.

A video of Kathy Poirier dancing with her son at his wedding was mistaken for Celine Dion

The video was shared with the incorrect caption that it showed "Celine Dion attending her son's wedding in a wheelchair." This caused confusion among viewers, who mistook Poirier for the Canadian singer. However, the woman in the video is indeed Kathy Poirier from Florida, who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Poirier's son Zak explained in an Instagram post that his mother had been diagnosed with ALS shortly before he graduated from law school. Despite her condition, they were determined to share a dance at his wedding. He expressed his admiration for his mother, saying, "She inspires me every day to be humble, kind, and selfless."

The mix-up occurred due to the similarity in their situations, as Celine Dion had announced her diagnosis with Stiff-Person Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder, in December 2022. However, there have been no reports of Dion being unable to walk or using a wheelchair, as claimed in the viral video. This mistake highlights the importance of fact-checking and not spreading misinformation, especially when it involves the personal lives of public figures.

Kathy Poirier has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease

A video of a woman in a wheelchair dancing at a wedding has gone viral on social media. Many people have mistakenly identified the woman as Canadian singer Celine Dion, who, in December 2022, revealed that she had been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome. However, the video actually shows Florida woman Kathy Poirier, who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons—the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that signal and control muscles. As the disease progresses, the motor neurons degenerate and die, leading to a loss of the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement. This can result in the loss of the ability to speak, eat, move, and breathe.

Kathy Poirier was diagnosed with ALS after experiencing symptoms in 2018. She had lost the ability to walk by the time of her son's wedding in 2022, where she was lifted out of her wheelchair to dance with him, supported by her three sons.

Lou Gehrig's disease, as ALS is also known, is named after a famous baseball player who died from the disease. It is a fatal disease with no known cure, causing progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain. It affects voluntary control of the arms and legs and leads to respiratory failure. While it does not affect intelligence, thinking, seeing, or hearing, it causes the muscles to waste away as they receive "no nourishment".

Celine Dion has Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), a rare neurological disorder

There is no truth to the claim that a video showing a woman in a wheelchair dancing at her son's wedding is the singer Celine Dion. The video in question actually shows Kathy Poirier, who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

However, Dion did reveal in December 2022 that she has been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), a rare neurological disorder that causes progressive muscle stiffness and involuntary spasms. SPS is a progressive disorder that affects approximately one in a million people and twice as many women as men. It can be triggered by movement, cold, emotional distress, and loud noises, and can hinder a person's ability to walk and sing. There is currently no cure for SPS, but it can be treated through chemical intervention and immune therapies.

In an emotional Instagram video, Dion shared that she would be postponing her European tour due to her health issues. She said that the spasms affect "every aspect" of her daily life, making it difficult for her to walk and sing. The singer thanked her fans for their "love and support" and expressed gratitude for her doctors, children, and sports medicine therapist, who she works with daily to rebuild her strength.

SPS is likely caused by abnormal autoimmune responses in the brain and spinal cord, according to the National Institute of Health. Celine Dion first spoke about her SPS symptoms in October 2021 when she postponed her Las Vegas residency due to "severe and persistent" muscle spasms.

The viral video was uploaded by the wedding planner, Roots and Stems, in April 2022

A video of a woman in a wheelchair dancing at a wedding has gone viral on social media, with many claiming it shows Canadian singer Celine Dion being aided by her children at her son's wedding. This claim is false. The video, uploaded by wedding planners Roots and Stems in April 2022, actually shows Kathy Poirier from Florida, USA, who suffers from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), dancing with her son Zak at his wedding.

The viral video was shared on Facebook with the caption: "This is Celine Dion attending her son's wedding in a wheelchair. She is suffering from a rare Condition known as Stiff-syndrome person. Oh, the Beautiful Celine Dion with her wonderful Vocal chords... Lesson to be learnt from her." Similar posts were shared on Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp.

However, the woman in the video is not Celine Dion. In December 2022, Dion revealed that she had been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that can cause muscle spasms and extreme muscle tightness. There have been no reports of Dion being unable to walk or using a wheelchair, as the video claims. Additionally, none of her sons are married.

A reverse image search and further investigation revealed that the woman in the video is Kathy Poirier, who was diagnosed with ALS a few years before her son Zak's wedding. Poirier's three sons supported her and helped her to dance at the wedding. The dance took place in front of around 130 guests at Ever After Farms Blueberry Wedding Barns in Florida, USA.

The video of Kathy Poirier was first uploaded by her son, Zak, and later shared by other users

The video, which was also shared by the wedding planner, quickly went viral on social media, with many people expressing their emotions and sharing their own stories of loved ones fighting ALS. The clip shows Kathy Poirier being lifted out of her wheelchair and onto the dance floor, where she dances with her son, Zak.

Kathy Poirier, from Florida, shared her experience with ALS and her determination to dance with her son at his wedding despite her diagnosis. She expressed her initial nerves and emotions about the milestone but felt at peace once she started dancing with her son. Poirier also stated that being in the arms of her three sons made her feel strong.

The viral video has contributed to raising awareness about ALS, with Kathy Poirier encouraging others to fight the disease and not lose hope. The original video uploaded by Zak and the subsequent shares by other users have helped spread the inspiring message of a mother's love and strength, touching the hearts of people worldwide.

Frequently asked questions