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'{{Short description|Hoax claiming musician Avril Lavigne is dead}} {{Use Canadian English|date=December 2022}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}} The '''Avril Lavigne replacement conspiracy theory''' is a [[conspiracy theory]] stating that Canadian singer [[Avril Lavigne]] died in 2003, shortly after the release of her successful first [[album]], ''[[Let Go (Avril Lavigne album)|Let Go]]'', and was replaced by a [[body double]] named Melissa Vandella. Evidence used to support the theory include changes in Lavigne's appearance between 2003 and the present, supposed [[Subliminal stimuli|subliminal messaging]] in her follow-up effort, ''[[Under My Skin (Avril Lavigne album)|Under My Skin]]'', and a photoshoot in which Lavigne has the name "Melissa" written on her hand. The truth behind the theory based of information I have received is there is an American lookalike with the persona Melissa vandella and her TikTok is mvandella92 or melissavandella1992. She just distracts the paparazzi in seldom locations in Buffalo ny, Atlanta,ga Macon ga, and Jacksonville FL. Melissa vandella is currently 31 years old as in (2023) her birthday is August 29th 1992. She hasn’t spoken on any kinds of rumors but as you can see she loves to do TikTok’s.she’s very cool and has a sense of humor, maybe cause she favors Avril in looks or her name.she sk8 boards And even has a Facebook page. Melissa used to work for a Tim Hortons as her first job,in 2015 and has so many similarities as Avril Lavigne. And even in some of her tiktoks shows Canada some continuous love and support with the cute Canadian red hoodie. And the amazing outfit and hair changes. Clearly Avril looks like Avril and Melissa looks like Avril/ herself as Melissa. She’s 5”3 in height and weights 130 pounds. Eyes blue. Currently resides in Atlanta GA. Melissa vandella is a pop punk/ country artist and rapper of her own. No music has been released yet. But plans to do so in the future. Melissa hasn’t spoken out if she’s at least related to Avril, or is her replacement or how she even got mixed in the conspiracy theory. Or what the situationship with the whole thing. But the world may never know. But from what I see on TikTok has a awesome personality!! Just give her a follow. She may even say HI! == Origins == {{multiple image | total_width = 320 | image1 = AvrilShow cropped.jpg | alt1 = Avril Lavigne performing in 2002 | image2 = Avril Lavigne playing guitar, St. Petersburg (crop).jpg | alt2 = Avril Lavigne performing in 2011 | footer = Lavigne performing in 2002 (left) and in 2011 (right), the year that the Avril Está Morta blog formed }} The origins of the replacement theory can be dated back to 2011, with a Brazilian blog named Avril Está Morta, or Avril Is Dead, although some sources say that the rumour dates back as far as 2005.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rohwedder |first1=Kristie |title=Avril Lavigne Can't Believe *That* Death Hoax Is Still A Thing Either |url=https://www.bustle.com/p/avril-lavigne-addressed-that-doppelganger-conspiracy-theory-she-thinks-its-weird-because-duh-15944500 |access-date=March 9, 2021 |work=[[Bustle (magazine)|Bustle]] |date=February 11, 2019 |archive-date=March 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329105348/https://www.bustle.com/p/avril-lavigne-addressed-that-doppelganger-conspiracy-theory-she-thinks-its-weird-because-duh-15944500 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cresci |first1=Elena |title=Why fans think Avril Lavigne died and was replaced by a clone named Melissa |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2017/may/15/avril-lavigne-melissa-cloning-conspiracy-theories |access-date=March 9, 2021 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=May 16, 2017 |archive-date=July 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715020329/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2017/may/15/avril-lavigne-melissa-cloning-conspiracy-theories |url-status=live }}</ref> The theory alleges that the pressures of fame, combined with the death of Lavigne's grandfather, sent her into a deep [[major depressive disorder|depression]] after the release of her 2002 debut album, ''[[Let Go (Avril Lavigne album)|Let Go]]'', and that the singer died by suicide shortly after.<ref name="song">{{cite news |last1=Song |first1=Sandra |title=A Conspiracy Theory Says Avril Lavigne Is Dead And Has Been Replaced By A Doppelganger |url=https://www.papermag.com/a-conspiracy-theory-says-avril-lavigne-is-dead-and-has-been-replaced-b-1427652800.html |access-date=March 9, 2021 |work=[[Paper (magazine)|Paper]] |date=October 1, 2015 |archive-date=October 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028232946/https://www.papermag.com/a-conspiracy-theory-says-avril-lavigne-is-dead-and-has-been-replaced-b-1427652800.html |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the conspiracy theory, a look-alike named "Melissa" was originally hired to distract paparazzi, protecting a reclusive Lavigne. It alleges that Lavigne befriended "Melissa", that shortly before the singer's supposed death her body double was taught how to sing and perform like the musician,<ref name="purdom">{{cite news |last1=Purdom |first1=Clayton |title=The world is now convinced that Avril Lavigne is dead |url=https://news.avclub.com/the-world-is-now-convinced-that-avril-lavigne-is-dead-1798262233 |access-date=March 9, 2021 |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=May 15, 2017 |archive-date=November 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115000447/https://news.avclub.com/the-world-is-now-convinced-that-avril-lavigne-is-dead-1798262233 |url-status=live }}</ref> that after Lavigne's death her record company buried the news and replaced her with "Melissa Vandella" for a continued profit, and that "Melissa" recorded all of Lavigne's future work.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Rafferty |first1=Scott |title=The Avril Lavigne Death Hoax That Won't Die |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/the-avril-lavigne-death-hoax-that-wont-die-117706/ |access-date=March 9, 2021 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=May 15, 2017 |archive-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124155947/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/the-avril-lavigne-death-hoax-that-wont-die-117706/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Much of the evidence cited in support of the conspiracy theory is the purported appearance and disappearance of various moles and other skin blemishes in pictures of Lavigne over time,<ref name="song" /> as well as a promotional photoshoot in which she has the name "Melissa" written on her hand.<ref name="bassil">{{cite news |last1=Bassil |first1=Ryan |title=Investigating the Conspiracy That Says Avril Lavigne Was Killed off and Replaced with an Actress |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/r7pebb/was-avril-lavigne-killed-off-and-replaced-with-an-actress |access-date=March 9, 2021 |work=[[Vice (magazine)|Noisey by Vice]] |date=October 1, 2015 |archive-date=February 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207004429/https://www.vice.com/en/article/r7pebb/was-avril-lavigne-killed-off-and-replaced-with-an-actress |url-status=live }}</ref> The conspiracy theory soon gained traction on [[Internet forums]] such as [[ATRL]] and [[Godlike Productions]], where self-proclaimed "Avril Rangers" shared evidence. One ATRL post in 2012 suggested that the original Avril may actually be alive, using a picture of what appeared to be the singer buying cheese at a time when "new Avril" was supposedly battling [[Lyme disease]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Feinberg |first1=Ashley |title=Did Avril Lavigne Die in 2003?: An Internet Conspiracy, Explained |url=http://blackbag.gawker.com/did-avril-lavigne-die-in-2003-an-internet-conspiracy-1734185142 |access-date=March 9, 2021 |work=[[Gawker]] |date=October 2, 2015 |archive-date=November 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114073841/https://blackbag.gawker.com/did-avril-lavigne-die-in-2003-an-internet-conspiracy-1734185142 |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition to the changes in her appearance, the theory alleges that the title and artwork for "Avril"'s second album, ''[[Under My Skin (Avril Lavigne album)|Under My Skin]]'', as well as the lyrics of songs like "[[My Happy Ending]]", "Together", and "The Best Years of Our Lives" by [[Evan Taubenfeld]], are [[Subliminal stimuli|subliminal messaging]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/is-avril-lavigne-really-dead-759563 |title=Is Avril Lavigne Really Dead? Assessing The Endless Rumours About Her 'Imposter' |date=May 15, 2017 |website=[[NMEP]] |access-date=March 9, 2021 |archive-date=February 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209160839/https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/is-avril-lavigne-really-dead-759563 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Is Avril Lavigne Really Dead? Assessing the Endless Rumours About Her 'Imposter' |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/is-avril-lavigne-really-dead-759563 |access-date=March 9, 2021 |work=[[NME]] |date=May 15, 2017 |archive-date=February 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209160839/https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/is-avril-lavigne-really-dead-759563 |url-status=live }}</ref> The original blog further suggests that Melissa feels guilt over "participating in this farce", leading to the subliminal messaging.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gilbride |first1=Tricia |title=The Avril Lavigne conspiracy theory that hasn't died yet, just like Avril Lavigne |url=https://mashable.com/2017/05/15/avril-lavigne-dead-conspiracy-theoryt/ |access-date=March 9, 2021 |work=[[Mashable]] |date=May 15, 2017 |archive-date=December 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224132114/https://mashable.com/2017/05/15/avril-lavigne-dead-conspiracy-theoryt/ |url-status=live }}</ref> == Rise in popularity == The theory began to gain traction in the United States in October 2015, when [[BuzzFeed]] reporter Ryan Broderick tweeted about Avril Está Morta.<ref name="broderick">{{cite news |last1=Broderick |first1=Ryan |title=Here's How I Accidentally Made An Old Avril Lavigne Death Hoax Go Viral |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/whyd-you-have-to-go-and-make-things-so-complicated |access-date=March 9, 2021 |work=[[BuzzFeed]] |date=October 2, 2015 |archive-date=January 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129020352/https://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/whyd-you-have-to-go-and-make-things-so-complicated?utm_term=.iv0RQ1wRn#.awGDgwlDR |url-status=live }}</ref> In a BuzzFeed post, Broderick cleared up his tweet on the matter, mentioning that the opening line of the original blog post admits that the theory is a hoax, and that "This blog was created to show how conspiracy theories can look true."<ref name="broderick" /> The death hoax saw increased prevalence in May 2017, when a high school student posted a Twitter thread alleging that Lavigne had died and been replaced in late 2003. The thread, which was retweeted a quarter of a million times, cited discrepancies in the singer's face, fashion style, and handwriting as evidence of her death and replacement.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Estatie |first1=Lamia |title=The Avril Lavigne conspiracy theory returns |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-39921209 |access-date=March 9, 2021 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=May 15, 2017 |archive-date=January 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103144333/https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-39921209 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Twitter thread largely corresponds with the earlier "Avril Está Morta" conspiracy, with one major difference: this time, ''Under My Skin'' was created using pre-existing recordings of the real Lavigne.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dickman |first1=Maggie |title=This Avril Lavigne conspiracy theory has returned, and the internet is freaking out |url=https://www.altpress.com/news/this_avril_lavigne_conspiracy_theory_has_returned_and_the_internet_is_freak/ |access-date=March 9, 2021 |work=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]] |date=May 15, 2017 |archive-date=February 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206071513/https://www.altpress.com/news/this_avril_lavigne_conspiracy_theory_has_returned_and_the_internet_is_freak/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Twitter thread inspired an Internet meme in which users would say that a celebrity or fictional character died and was replaced, showing two pictures of the figure in question and titling it "a conspiracy theory thread".<ref name="shamsian">{{cite news |last1=Shamsian |first1=Jacob |title=The internet is having a field day with a crazy conspiracy theory that Avril Lavigne died and was replaced with someone else |url=https://www.insider.com/avril-lavigne-conspiracy-thread-theory-twitter-meme-2017-5 |access-date=March 9, 2021 |work=[[Business Insider]] |date=May 17, 2017}}</ref> == Response == The first time Lavigne was asked about the rumours was in 2014 during an interview for the Brazilian TV show [[Pânico na Band]], during [[The Avril Lavigne Tour]]. Lavigne was asked if she had heard about online rumours claiming she "had died and was replaced by a clone", to which she replied by saying that the first time she was hearing about it was in this interview, and later added, "Well, I'm here, and I'm here in Brazil". In a video of the interview uploaded to the official YouTube channel of the TV show, it's possible to see images of the blog page ''Avril Está Morta'' responsible for starting the rumours.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 30, 2015 |title=Avril Lavigne Dança Beijinho No Ombro |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvINUk3ypzw |access-date=September 20, 2022 |publisher=YouTube }}</ref> After the theory resurfaced globally in 2017, Lavigne addressed the rumours in a November 2017 Facebook live stream Q&A, when a fan asked whether she was dead, to which Lavigne responded, "No, I'm not dead. I'm here."<ref name="michallon">{{cite news |last1=Michallon |first1=Clemence |title=Avril Lavigne responds to conspiracy theory that she died years ago and was replaced by lookalike |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/avril-lavigne-dead-melissa-conspiracy-theory-lookalike-doppelganger-a8615421.html |access-date=March 9, 2021 |work=[[The Independent]] |date=November 2, 2018 |archive-date=November 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121215652/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/avril-lavigne-dead-melissa-conspiracy-theory-lookalike-doppelganger-a8615421.html |url-status=live }}</ref> She went on to say that the theory was spawned because "people are just bored and need something to talk about".<ref name="michallon" /> The question was broached again in a November 2018 interview with Australia's [[KIIS 106.5]]. When asked about the theory, the singer responded, "Some people think that I'm not the real me, which is so weird! Like, why would they even think that?"<ref name="kiis">{{cite news |title=Avril Lavigne confronts conspiracy theory that she's a clone |url=https://www.altpress.com/news/avril-lavigne-reacts-clone-conspiracy-theories/ |access-date=March 9, 2021 |work=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]] |date=November 1, 2018 |archive-date=February 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212181206/https://www.altpress.com/news/avril-lavigne-reacts-clone-conspiracy-theories/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Radio hosts [[The Kyle and Jackie O Show|Kyle and Jackie O]] said that Lavigne "never actually flat out denied" that she had been replaced, and suggested that technological difficulties during the interview were a suspicious coincidence.<ref name="kiis" /> In a 2019 interview with ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', Lavigne addressed the theory directly, calling it a "dumb internet rumor" and saying that she was "flabbergasted that people bought into it".<ref name="kaplan">{{cite magazine |last1=Kaplan |first1=Ilana |title=Avril Lavigne on ''Head Above Water'', near-death experiences, and that crazy conspiracy theory |url=https://ew.com/music/2019/02/11/avril-lavigne-head-above-water-interview/ |access-date=March 9, 2021 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=February 11, 2019 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122015950/https://ew.com/music/2019/02/11/avril-lavigne-head-above-water-interview/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Lavigne addressed the rumour once again in a 2022 interview for ''Galore Magazine'', stating "So it's funny because everyone says I look the same, but then there's that. That doesn't make any sense. Also, how random? When people bring it up, and it's been brought up to me for like, years, that there's this conspiracy theory that I'm not me or something? I'm a clone? How did something like that get so—I don't know, it's just the weirdest rumour."<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Avril Lavigne Is Still The Motherf*cking (Pop-Punk) Princess |url=https://galoremag.com/avril-lavigne-is-still-the-motherfcking-pop-punk-princess// |date=January 17, 2022 |access-date=September 2, 2022 |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218111626/https://galoremag.com/avril-lavigne-is-still-the-motherfcking-pop-punk-princess/ |url-status=live |magazine=Galore Magazine }}</ref> In 2013, a separate [[death hoax]] alleged that Lavigne died in a [[snowboarding]] accident at [[Whistler Blackcomb]] [[ski resort]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Francis |first1=Nathan |title=Avril Lavigne Dead? Bizarre Conspiracy Theory About Singer's Suicide Goes Viral |url=https://www.inquisitr.com/2482920/avril-lavigne-dead-bizarre-conspiracy-theory-about-singers-suicide-goes-viral/ |access-date=March 9, 2021 |work=[[Inquisitr]] |date=December 25, 2017 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108094708/https://www.inquisitr.com/2482920/avril-lavigne-dead-bizarre-conspiracy-theory-about-singers-suicide-goes-viral/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The creator of the same Brazilian blog that originated the "Avril Está Morta" conspiracy had apologized and changed the whole blog post to state that Avril has never died, and that the blog was a way of showing how conspiracy theories may seem true.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Crews |first=Tyler |date=April 2, 2018 |title=Who is Avril Lavigne? Or Should We Say Melissa? |url=https://nyunews.com/2018/04/01/04-02-avril-features/ |access-date=August 6, 2022 |website=Washington Square News |archive-date=August 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806211052/https://nyunews.com/2018/04/01/04-02-avril-features/ |url-status=live }}</ref> == See also == * [[Paul is dead]], a similar theory involving [[Paul McCartney]] * [[Melania Trump replacement conspiracy theory]] == References == {{reflist}} {{Avril Lavigne}}{{Conspiracy theories}} [[Category:Death conspiracy theories]] [[Category:Women and death]] [[Category:Conspiracy theories in Brazil]] [[Category:Conspiracy theories in the United States]] [[Category:2010s in mass media]] [[Category:Avril Lavigne]]'