Elton John says Phillip Schofield affair furore has been ‘totally homophobic’
’Candle in the Wind’ singer said there would not have been the same amount of coverage if the presenter had a relationship with a woman
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.Elton John has said the reaction to Phillip Schofield’s affair with a younger colleague is “totally homophobic”.
The 76-year-old singer claimed a heterosexual relationship with a similar age gap would not have attracted such negative coverage.
John made the comments in an interview with the Radio Times, where he denounced the status of LGBT+ rights and individuals in the US, which he compared to the treatment of the former This Morning presenter.
The “Candle In The Wind” singer said: “Well, it’s all going pear-shaped in America. There’s violence, (discriminatory) laws enacted in Florida, which are disgraceful.
“There’s a law now that, if you visit a doctor in Florida, they can refuse to treat you if you’re gay, which I find just unbelievable.
“We seem to be going backwards. And that spreads. It’s like a virus that the LGBTQ+ movement is suffering.”
He added: “I don’t like it at all. It’s a growing swell of anger and homophobia that’s around America.
“I don’t know if it’s around Britain because I haven’t been here that much. But I feel that the Phillip Schofield thing has been totally homophobic.
“If it was a straight guy in a fling with a young woman, it wouldn’t even make the papers.”
Schofield resigned from ITV last month and was dropped by his talent agency YMU after admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger male runner on This Morning.
During an interview with the BBC’s Amol Rajan, the 61-year-old said he had “lost everything” after admitting to the affair, and that the fallout had had a “catastrophic effect” on his mind.
He also alleged to The Sun that homophobia had motivated criticism towards him, contrasting responses to his affair and Leonardo DiCaprio’s relationships with younger women.
Schofield said: “Attraction is attraction. It’s no different in the gay world as it is in the heterosexual world or in the lesbian world.
“There shouldn’t be a difference. This is where homophobia comes in.
“We did first meet when he was 15, I visited the drama school (he attended).
“So, yeah, there’s a difference. It’s accepted by Leonardo DiCaprio, it’s not accepted if it’s in the gay world.”
John, who will headline the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival this month with a performance that will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC Radio 2 on 25 June, joins other high-profile figures in criticising the backlash against Schofield.
LGBT+ rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said earlier this month that the “trashing” of Schofield had “more than a whiff of homophobia”, in a statement shared with the PA news agency.
Tatchell called the public response a “rank double standard”, while actor Rupert Everett described media coverage as “insane”.
Additional reporting by agencies