Elton John has leapt to the defence of Ellen DeGeneres over her friendship with George Bush
Sir Elton John defended Ellen DeGeneres (Tim P. Whitby/Getty)
Sir Elton John has said he “admires” Ellen DeGeneres for defending her friendship with George W Bush.
The gay musician waded into the discussion after DeGeneres said she is “friends” with the Republican ex-president, who tried to amend the US constitution to ban same-sex marriage and fought to stop gay soldiers from serving in the armed forces.
In an interview with NPR, Sir Elton said: “I admire Ellen for standing up and saying what she said.
“George Bush has made a lot of mistakes. I made a lot of mistakes. Ellen DeGeneres has made a lot of mistakes.
“People need to come together […] They need to respect people’s view on life. Except when it’s heresy, and I don’t think George Bush is that kind of guy.”
Sir Elton also avoided criticism of current president Donald Trump, describing it as a “good thing” that he has maintained funding to AIDS prevention funding, despite the leader shuttering the White House Office of National AIDS Policy.
Sir Elton John is also friends with anti-LGBT+ conservatives.
The singer is no stranger to cosy relationships with anti-LGBT+ conservatives, pocketing a reported $1 million in 2010 to perform at the wedding of right-wing shock jock Rush Limbaugh.
The radio host refused to apologise in 2013 after suggesting the acceptance of equal marriage could also pave the way for the “normalisation” of paedophilia.
Elton John (C) with Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres (John Shearer/Getty)
Speaking to the New York Times in 2014, he said: “I’ve been sober for 24 years now, and one of the best lessons it taught me is to listen.
“When it comes to people like Rush Limbaugh, or people who might enrage you sometimes, dialogue is the only way. You have to reach out.”
He added: “Whether you make an impact in one year or 30 years, it doesn’t matter. You have to put your foot in the water and start the process… [it’s] better to build a bridge than a wall.”
Ellen DeGeneres defends George Bush friendship.
In a monologue on The Ellen Show, she made clear: “I’m friends with George Bush… just because I don’t agree with someone on everything doesn’t mean that I’m not going to be friends with them.
“When I say, ‘Be kind to one another,’ I don’t mean only the people that think the same way that you do. I mean be kind to everyone.”
