Speaking on the May 15 episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, singer Avril Lavigne addressed a bizarre internet conspiracy theory claiming she was replaced by a lookalike named Melissa.
The rumor surfaced on the internet in the early 2000s at the height of Lavigne's fame following the release of her pop punk album Let Go and her hit singles "Complic8ted" and "Sk8er Boi."
After host Alex Cooper asked Lavigne to share the weirdest rumor she's heard about herself, Lavigne responded:
"I know what you're talking about. I mean, it's just funny to me. Like, on one end, everyone's like, 'You look the exact same. You haven't aged a day.' But then other people are like, there's a conspiracy theory that I'm not me."
"Honestly, it's not that bad. It could be worse, right? I feel like I got a good one. I don't feel like it's negative. It's nothing creepy."
"Obviously I am me, it's so dumb."
Lavigne also noted that rumors of musicians having doppelgängers are nothing new:
"I think that they've done that with other artists. I'm not the only one. I think, like, other people have that."
Cooper agreed that the rumor is silly because Lavigne is clearly... Lavigne:
"I'm telling you what's crazy is you haven't aged. I'm staring at you. And, like, I'm picturing you with your auburn hair. And I'm like, oh my God."
"You literally look the same from when you were younger. "
You can hear what they said in the video below.
Many agreed that the rumor is ridiculous.
Others teased Lavigne over the rumor.
The "Melissa" conspiracy theory is thought to have originated on a Brazilian fan page in the early 2000s.
It's rumored that the original Lavigne passed away, leading the record company to permanently replace her with Melissa.
"Evidence" supporting this theory includes discrepancies in Lavigne's attire on the red carpet—with Lavigne favoring trousers and Melissa preferring dresses and skirts—as well as purported differences in facial features between the Lavigne of pre-2003 and the current persona.
@DonaldJTrumpJr/X
@DogRightGirl/X