Elton John Reveals His Illnesses Comparable To ‘AIDS Situation’
Elton John, 78, has been a global superstar since the 1970s. He opened about an illness he’s battling, comparing it to the ‘AIDS situation.’ Keep reading to find out what’s going on with his health.
Elton John Implores President Trump To Cure AIDS
Many countries around the globe observe December 1 as World AIDS Day. The day, first celebrated in 1988, is meant to spread awareness about HIV and AIDS. Despite years of research, a cure for AIDS has yet to be discovered. Very few have done as much to raise awareness about AIDS as Elton John has.
The singer, who turns 79 in March, recently welcomed Variety into his home in Hollywood Hills, California. He lives there with his husband, David Furnish, and their two children, Zachary, 14, and Elijah, 12. Elton John opened up about his frustration with the lack of progress in finding a cure.
The singer famously befriended Ryan White, a young boy who was ostracized by his community in the 1980s for having AIDS. He became the face of the crusade to find a cure. The Elton John AIDS Foundation was founded in 1992, partly in honor of Ryan White.
During the interview with Variety, Elton John suggested that President Trump could cement his lasting legacy by ending the AIDS epidemic. “President Trump has maybe solved the peace problem. If he wants to go down as one of the greatest presidents in history … if he ended AIDS, that would really be a feather in his cap,” he said, referencing the President’s efforts to forge peace in Israel.
Iconic Singer Reveals Debilitating Illness Comparable To ‘AIDS Situation’
Elton John does not have AIDS. However, he’s been dealing with a debilitating illness that has taken his sight. The “Candle in the Wind” singer contracted an infection while in France in 2024. The infection left him blind in one eye, with his other eye in danger.
The legend, known for his piano skills, retired from touring in 2023, but still performs sometimes. “It’s been devastating. Because I lost my right eye and my left eye’s not so good, the last 15 months have been challenging for me because I haven’t been able to see anything, watch anything, read anything,” he admitted to Variety.
He said that he hopes science will find a cure to restore his eyesight. “It’s exactly like the AIDS situation. You mustn’t give up hope, you must be stoic, you must be strong, and you must always try and batter the door down to try and improve things,” the singer added.
His husband shared an encouraging update. “We’ve been doing some treatments and there’s been some improvements in his left eye, which is really good, and we’re continuing to explore and getting a lot of outreach from a lot of doctors who want to help and support.”
Elton John has reportedly seen specialists all over the world to help him regain his sight. “I’m an optimist permanently. I’ve got bad eyesight at the moment. There have been days where I’ve been miserable, but then I think about how lucky I am,” he said about his state of mind amid the devastating illness.
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