World-renowned Singer Celine Dion shared a vulnerable moment of her experience living with stiff-person syndrome in a raw scene in the new documentary, “I Am: Celine Dion.” The film, released Tuesday on Prime Video, shows the 56-year-old suffering a severe spasm during a physical therapy session. Laying on a table on her side, Dion is seen freezing and starting to cry as she shakes slightly and whimpers in pain.
Dion revealed in December 2022 that she had been diagnosed with the rare neurological disease , which can cause painful spasms and difficulty walking. In the documentary, viewers see the star going through one of those hard moments. The footage shows a physical therapist talking Dion through the spasm and asking her to squeeze his hand if she is in pain.
He gives her a nasal spray after noting that she was breathing abnormally. He and others in the room discuss whether to call 911 if another spasm were to start, but Dion weakly reassures them, saying, “I’m OK.” It was a candid moment for the Canadian songstress — one she insisted on keeping in the film.
When Dion was shown a rough cut six months after that spasm, she told director Irene Taylor, “Don’t cut down that scene,” Taylor told the Los Angeles Times. In the documentary, Dion revealed she’s been living with symptoms of the condition for 17 years. What is stiff-person syndrome? Stiff-person syndrome is an autoimmune and neurological condition that affects roughly one or two out of every 1 mill.
