It’s the absurd theory that has circulated the internet for over six years.
And now, Canadian singer Avril Lavigne has finally offered a response to the rumours that claim she ‘died’ at the age of 18 and was replaced by a doppelganger named Melissa Vandella.
On Thursday, radio duo Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson asked the 34-year-old whether she found the theory humorous during a segment on KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O Show.
‘People think that I’m not the real me’: Avril Lavigne finally addressed the conspiracy theory that claims she ‘died’ in 2003 and was replaced by a clone during a segment on KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O Show on Thursday (Pictured here in 2003)
‘What about, did you laugh at the rumours that went around where you no longer exist and there’s a clone of you?’ Jackie asked.
After a short pause, the pop-punk singer responded, saying: ‘Yeah, some people think that I’m not the real me, which is so weird!’
‘Like, why would they even think that?’ she added.
‘What about, did you laugh at the rumours that went around where you no longer exist and there’s a clone of you?’ Jackie asked the songstress
‘Like, why would they even think that?’ Avril seemed confused about the theory’s origins when speaking to the radio duo about the rumours that she ‘died’ at the age of 18 in 2003 and was replaced by a doppelganger named Melissa Vandella. Left: Fans believe this is the ‘real’ Avril pictured before her alleged ‘death’ in 2003. Right: Avril pictured in 2018, which theorists believe to actually be doppelganger Melissa
The Sk8er Boi hitmaker has never officially denied the claims made in the conspiracy theory, which first arose in 2005.
While Avril is very much alive and well – the conspiracy theory suggests that the songstress was replaced by a clone shortly after her ‘suicide’ in 2003.
The alleged ‘proof’ that supports the theory is that Avril drastically changed her appearance after the release of her second album in 2004, titled Under My Skin.
The alleged ‘proof’ that supports the theory is that Avril drastically changed her appearance after the release of her second album in 2004, titled Under My Skin. Pictured in 2016. Theorists believe this picture is actually of look-a-like Melissa due to her blonde hair and feminine style
Theorists even go as far as to say an analysis of the album’s lyrics appear to be written by ‘Melissa,’ who is mourning the loss of Avril and drops subliminal hints of her alleged ‘death’.
Fans took to blogs in the early 2000s to share photographs of the alleged changes to Avril’s facial structure, analyse feminine fashion choices at the time and even make note to any changes in her hair colour and style.
Gossip Cop reported in 2017 that the singer is ‘mildly amused’ by the conspiracy theory.
Interesting! Although Avril has made no comment on the rumours of her death, Gossip Cop reported in 2017 that the singer is ‘mildly amused’ by the conspiracy theory