Conspiracy theory Avril Lavigne has body double resurfaces on her birthday

Demetria Osei-TutuSun, September 27, 2026 at 10:56 PM UTC

0

Avril Lavigne is turning 43 on September 27 -Credit:Getty Images

Avril Lavigne has a longstanding conspiracy theory that she has been replaced.

The Canadian singer-songwriter, like most celebs, has conspiracy theories about them. There is a popular conspiracy theory about Avril that the real her died years ago and a clone took her place. From time to time, the conspiracy comes back up again.

This time around, Avril is turning 43 on Sunday, September 27. This all comes as the Complicated artist was reported to have attended Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's nuptials at Madison Square Garden in New York City in July. She reportedly won a luxury bag and performed Sk8er Boi at the wedding.

• Nikki Glaser apologizes to transgender influencer after making 'dumb' joke during show

• Gabby Petito's family say her spirit 'made sure she was found' in heartbreaking admission

The Mirror US takes a look at the conspiracy theory and its origin.

What is the Avril replacement conspiracy theory?

According to multiple mediaoutlets, the unfounded theory began in March 2011 when a Brazilian blog called Avril Está Morta (Avril is Dead), launched on the internet.

The blog site proposed that Avril had died in 2003 and was replaced by an identical lookalike. They claimed the reason for that theory is that Avril had changed her style, music genres, and appearance following the release of her 2002 debut album, Let Go. The theory stated that Avril fell into a deep depression after her grandfather's death, along with the pressures of fame, and died by suicide in 2002. Then record executives from her label got a lookalike, Melissa Vandella, to take her place.

There is a conspiracy theory that Avril died in 2003 and was replaced by a clone named Melissa Vandella -Credit:Getty Images

The site also laid out their alleged proof, including Avril supposedly putting subliminal messages in her Under The Skin (2004) album, going over the lyrics of a couple of songs, stating her singing style as well as her voice changed.

Advertisement

The hoax had some fans believing it and, over the years, claiming proof with the Grammy-winning artist's change in personal style, her arm freckle pattern, handwriting, eye shape, and Avril's use of certain words and punctuation on then-Twitter.

The replacement conspiracy theory appeared to have originated from a Brazilian blog called "Avril Está Morta (Avril is Dead) in 2011 -Credit:Penske Media via Getty ImagesWhat has Avril said about it?

Avril has addressed the conspiracy theory a few times. It seems like the first time she was told about the theory was in 2014 in an interview with the Brazilian TV show Pânico na Band. Avril was asked if she had heard about the replacement theory, and she said, "I didn't hear about it...I am hearing about it from you."

"Well, I'm here, and I'm here in Brazil. On Tour," she continued.

In 2018, Avril was on the Australian radio station KIIS 1065, and host Jackie Henderson asked her (per Teen Vogue), "Did you laugh at the rumors that went around that you no longer exist and there's a clone of you?" Jackie also mentioned that the rumors said that she died years ago and that a clone is pretending to be Avril.

"Yeah, some people think that I'm not the real me, which is so weird!" Avril replied. "Like, why would they even think that?"

Avril has addressed the theory multiple times -Credit:Getty Images

She told the Entertainment Weekly in 2019, "More like that it's just a dumb internet rumor and [I'm] flabbergasted that people bought into it. Isn't that so weird? It's so dumb. And I look the exact same. On one hand, everyone is like, 'Oh my god, you look the same,' and on the other hand people are like, 'Oh my god, she died.'"

In 2024 in an appearance on Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy podcast in May 2024, she talked about the rumors again.

Avril has been making music for over two decades -Credit:Getty Images

"There is a conspiracy theory that I'm not me," Avril said before turning to the camera with a smile and a thumbs up. "Cool," she added. "Honestly, it's not that bad; it could be worse, right? I feel like I got a good one. I don't think it's, like, negative or anything, like, creepy, so we are good."

Alex countered that the conspiracy theory was a little creepy, to which Avril reiterated that it "could be worse." She then dispelled the theory, saying with laughter, "Obviously, I am me. It's so dumb."

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”