Shock: Barbra Streisand Secretly Cloned Her Dog That Died in 2017 — But Why Did She Do It, and What Awaits the Two New Pups as Science Still Has No Clear Answers?
In a revelation that feels like something out of a science‑fiction movie, legendary singer and actress Barbra Streisand has confirmed what many long speculated: two of her current dogs, Scarlett and Violet, are clones of her beloved 14‑year‑old Coton de Tulear, Samantha, who died in 2017. The confession, which Streisand has shared in snippets over the years but rarely discussed in detail, has resurfaced — and it’s sparking intense debate over ethics, grief, and how far people will go to hold onto those they love.
The story is both heartbreaking and shocking. Samantha, affectionately known as “Sammie,” had been Streisand’s constant companion for nearly a decade and a half. When the dog passed away, those close to the singer described her as “inconsolable,” reportedly retreating from public appearances and spending weeks in mourning. “She couldn’t imagine life without Samantha,” a source close to Streisand told Vanity Fair. “That dog wasn’t just a pet — she was family.”
But while most pet owners turn to photo albums or memories to cope, Streisand took a path that only the wealthy and well‑connected could pursue. She had Samantha’s cells preserved and, in a private arrangement with a California biotech lab, cloned the dog — not once, but twice. The result: Scarlett and Violet, the two nearly identical pups that Streisand revealed to the world in 2018. “They’re not the same, but they remind me of her,” Streisand said in a rare interview.
Why Did She Do It?
That’s the million‑dollar question — quite literally, as the cloning process can cost upwards of $50,000 per dog. Streisand has been candid about her grief and admitted that the decision was deeply personal. “I couldn’t bear the thought of losing Samantha forever,” she said. “Cloning gave me a way to keep a part of her alive.”
For some fans, this is touching — a powerful reminder of the lengths we go for love. But for others, it raises uncomfortable questions about ethics, technology, and whether cloning a pet truly fills the void of loss.
Animal rights advocates have been quick to weigh in. “Cloning doesn’t bring your pet back — it creates a new animal with its own unique identity,” said Dr. Karen Mills, an animal behaviorist. “There are serious ethical implications, including the well‑being of surrogate mothers used in the cloning process. It’s not as simple as people think.”
The Pups — And the Science That Still Can’t Answer Everything
Scarlett and Violet are reportedly healthy and thriving, living alongside Streisand’s third dog, Miss Fanny, in her lavish Malibu estate. But experts say that while cloned pets may look and even behave similarly to their predecessors, science has yet to fully understand how environment, personality, and memory shape an animal’s identity.
“These dogs are genetically identical to Samantha,” explained Dr. Thomas Erwin, a veterinary geneticist. “But they are not her. They have different experiences, different brains, and, ultimately, they are their own dogs. Cloning can’t replicate the soul of an animal.”
This uncertainty has left many wondering: Did cloning give Streisand comfort, or will it create new layers of grief as she watches her cloned dogs grow into beings that are similar but not quite the same?
Public Backlash and Mixed Reactions
Unsurprisingly, the revelation has ignited heated conversations online. Some fans have called Streisand’s actions “beautiful and innovative,” praising her for using technology to cope with devastating loss. Others, however, accuse her of “playing God” and using her wealth to cross moral boundaries.
One viral tweet read: “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Cloning a pet isn’t love — it’s control.” Another fan pushed back: “If you had the resources and you lost your best friend, wouldn’t you do anything to get them back?”
The Future of Cloning — And What It Means for All of Us
Barbra Streisand’s story is more than a celebrity headline. It’s part of a growing trend among the ultra‑wealthy, who are quietly turning to cloning to preserve their beloved animals. As biotech companies continue to refine the process, some fear it could lead to a slippery slope where animals — and eventually even humans — are cloned for comfort or convenience.
For now, Streisand seems unbothered by the controversy. “I did what I felt I needed to do,” she said in a recent interview. “When you love something that deeply, you’ll do anything to keep it with you.”
Whether you see it as an act of love, a scientific experiment, or a moral misstep, one thing is clear: Barbra Streisand has once again challenged our understanding of grief, technology, and the very limits of what it means to say goodbye.
