Avril Lavigne addresses ‘Melissa’ conspiracy theories: “It’s just funny to me”

Avril Lavigne has addressed the “dumb” internet conspiracy theory that she was replaced by a body double named Melissa Vandella over 20 years ago, following the release of her debut album Let Go.

In her first-ever podcast interview, on Call Her Daddy, the Canadian pop-punk star is asked by host Alex Cooper about the “crazy rumour out there” about her, to which Avril explains, “Oh… yeah… that one! I know what you’re talking about. I mean, it’s just funny to me. On one end, everyone’s like, ‘Oh my god, you look the exact same, you haven’t aged a day.’ But then other people are like, you know… There’s a conspiracy theory that I’m not me.”

She jokingly gives a thumbs-up, and adds, “Cool. 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 negative. We’re good!”

Avril goes on to laugh that, “I mean, obviously I am me – it’s so dumb!” and when she’s quizzed about why she thinks people started the rumour in the first place, she shrugs: “I think that they’ve done that with other artists – I’m not the only one. I think, like, other people have that.”

Watch the interview below, with the Melissa stuff coming in around 42 minutes:

Avril is releasing a Greatest Hits album on June 21, and making her Glastonbury debut a couple of days later.

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