Inside Elton John’s bitchiest feuds – from calling rock legend ‘pathetic monkey’ to Lily Allen slapdown

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

IT'S a little bit funny . . . just how many famous people Elton John has clashed with over his long career.

The star hit the headlines ­earlier this week after finally burying the hatchet with Madonna, more than two decades after he slammed her for lip-syncing and called her 007 anthem, Die Another Day, "the worst Bond song ever".

Elton John at the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards.
Getty
Elon John has a long history of showbiz feuds[/caption]
Elton John and Madonna embracing.
Instagram
Elton finally buried the hatchet with Madonna this week after more than two decades of beef[/caption]
Lily Allen and Elton John at the GQ Men of the Year Awards.
Getty
Lily Allen's friendship with Elton soured after they hosted the 2008 GQ Men Of The Year awards together[/caption]

But Madge isn't the only megastar that Elton's locked horns with.

Here's a round-up of his biggest beef thus far.

As contemporaries, Rod Stewart and Elton were frenemies for 55 years — calling each other Phyllis and Sharon — since they were young.

But that turned ugly in 2019, after Rod criticised Elton's upcoming "money-grabbing" farewell tour.

Elton duly said farewell to his rival, adding in his memoir that he didn't need a "lecture on the feral spirit of rock and roll" from someone who'd spent the past decade "crooning his way through the Great American Songbook and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas".

Rod later apologised, conceding they're like a "married couple" who argue on occasion. Divorce pending.

Things got messy at the 2008 GQ Men Of The Year awards after Elton's co-host Lily Allen enjoyed one too many drinks and slurred her way through the ceremony.

When Lily told the audience, "And now for the most important part of the night . . .", Elton quipped, "What?

"Are you going to have another drink?"

She promptly hit back, "F**k off, Elton.

"I am 40 years younger than you and have my whole life ahead of me!"

To which he retorted, "I could still snort you under the table."

Cue snorts and awkward chuckles from the audience.

After duetting for Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me, the sun set on Elton's friendship with George Michael in 2004, when Elton said the late singer was in a "strange place" and there seemed to be a "deep-rooted unhappiness in his life".

George debunked his former friend's comments, publicly ­stating Elton knew nothing.

In 1988, Keith Richards threw the first (Rolling) stone, saying that Elton was a "lovely bloke, but posing".

He then doubled down, dismissing Elton's 1997 re-release of Candle In The Wind to mark Princess Diana's death as a "song for dead blondes".

But Elton got his payback, saying in an interview he was glad to be sober as "it would be awful to be like Keith".

He added, "He's pathetic, poor thing.

"It's like a monkey with arthritis trying to go on stage and look young.

"I respect the Stones, but they would have been better if they'd thrown Keith out 15 years ago . . . he's an asshole."

Sir Elton John and Keith Richards at the GQ Men Of The Year Awards.
2015 David M. Benett
Keith Richards said Elton was a 'lovely bloke, but posing'[/caption]
Bob Dylan wearing sunglasses and a hooded jacket in New York City.
Getty
Elton didn't recognise Bob Dylan at a party because of his 'scruffy' appearance[/caption]

They may be old pals, but Elton's slammed fellow curmudgeon Bob Dylan in the past, after the folk singer turned up at one of his fabulous parties in the 1980s.

Not that Elton recognised him — he just saw a "scruffy-looking guy" tucking into the food.

After years spent touring with Billy Joel, Elton doled out some "tough love" to his mate via a magazine interview.

He said Joel was "coasting" and "We've had so many cancelled tours because of various other things, alcoholism".

Despite his fallouts over the years, anyone who's anyone hopes for an invite to Elton's annual Oscar party.

So, Prince Harry was reportedly miffed, after old pal Elton "snubbed" him and Meghan in 2023.

The snub reportedly followed a disagreement over Elton serialising his memoir in a newspaper.

Harry didn't approve and was duly dropped from Elton's red carpet.

No Sussexes at his party? Guess it was no Sacrifice at all.

Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.


Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post