Elton John, the renowned singer famous for songs like “Rocket Man” and “Your Song,” expressed his outrage in London’s High Court over allegations that his landline phones were illegally wiretapped on behalf of the Daily Mail. John, along with his husband David Furnish, Prince Harry, and four others, is suing Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail, for multiple privacy infringements. Associated denies the accusations of phone hacking and other unlawful activities, claiming their stories were sourced from publicly available information or legitimate sources within celebrities’ social circles.
During the court proceedings, John, appearing via video link, revealed that he learned of the alleged phone bugging from his close friend, actress Elizabeth Hurley, who is also a claimant in the case. Hurley was informed by a private investigator that John’s landline phones were compromised while she was staying with him shortly after the birth of her son. The credibility of the evidence provided by the private investigator has become a significant point of contention in the trial, as the investigator has now retracted his initial statement, casting doubt on its authenticity.
Expressing his indignation, John, who has a successful music career spanning over six decades, emphasized his dismay at the invasion of privacy, stating that he was “incensed” upon learning about the phone hacking. He clarified that during Hurley’s visit, his three landline phones were compromised, leading to his profound outrage at the violation of his privacy. Despite facing challenges due to his eyesight, John reiterated his determination to stand up against unfair treatment by the British press.
In response to questioning from Associated’s lawyer, John refuted the suggestion that information in the articles could have come from his own spokesperson or lawful sources, stressing that his friends do not engage with the media to protect their privacy and trust. He criticized the focus on trivial matters, urging attention to the significant breaches committed by Associated.
Highlighting the distress caused by the Daily Mail’s actions, John and Furnish cited a specific article from 2010 that disclosed personal details about their surrogacy process, including obtaining their son’s birth certificate before they were informed. John condemned the invasion into their private lives, particularly regarding their son’s birth and his health issues, labeling the Mail’s actions as “abhorrent” and a violation of basic human decency.
As the final claimant to present evidence, John concluded his testimony as part of the ongoing nine-week trial, which is set to wrap up next month.
