Elton John photographed with a Dolce & Gabbana shopping bag a day after his boycott
The singer started a #boycottdolcegabbana social media campaign following the designer duo's comments about gay adoption
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir Elton John was so outraged by Dolce & Gabbana’s opposition to gay adoption and IVF, he inspired the #boycottdolcegabbana hashtag on Twitter.
It quickly trended, with support from household names such as Courtney Love and Matt Lucas, as well as an endorsement from Glee creator Ryan Murphy. It also spawned a wealth of loving posts from families who had conceived using IVF treatment.
But the musician came under some criticism when photographs of him in Los Angeles surfaced this week.
Pictures of Sir Elton carrying a Dolce & Gabbana shopping bag as he entered a recording studio were published alongside the headline ‘What about the boycott Elton?’
The report also ran with a quote from the star’s publicist, which read: “He went to the recording studio, not shopping.”
The images currently being sold by Splash! are listed on the photography agency’s website as exclusive this week.
Sir Elton’s publicist Gary Farrow initially told The Independent that the photographs of the singer were old, and were not taken following his call to oppose the designer duo.
He further claimed that someone had Photoshopped the original image.
“He was carrying a black briefcase,” Farrow said.
However, he retracted his initial comments on Tuesday night, admitting: “It transpires he was carrying a D&G bag.”
The openly gay Italian designers outraged the star by declaring their opposition to same-sex adoptions.
“The only family is the traditional one,” they said.
“No chemical offsprings and rented uterus: life has a natural flow, there are things that should not be changed.”
Sir Elton, who has had two children by IVF with his husband David Furnish, wrote on Instagram: “How dare you refer to my beautiful children as 'synthetic'.
“And shame on you for wagging you judgemental little fingers at IVF - a miracle that has allowed legions of loving people, both straight and gay, to fulfil their dream of having children.”
“Your archaic thinking is out of step with the times, just like your fashions.”
“I shall never wear Dolce and Gabbana ever again. #BoycottDolceGabbana.”
This story was updated when Elton John’s publicist, Gary Farrow, retracted his claims about the photos being historic or photoshopped, and accepted that Sir Elton had indeed been carrying a D&G bag.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments