Elton John says he would have been ‘cheating people’ if the sex scene in ‘Rocketman’ was left out
The musical biopic stars Taron Egerton as the iconic gay singer
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
Elton John said he would have been ‘cheating people’ if the sex scene in Rocketman was left out.
The iconic singer’s life has turned into a movie musical Rocketman starring Taron Egerton and has been released in UK cinemas today (May 22).
And early reviews following screenings at Cannes Film Festival said the film is the first major studio film to depict a gay love scene between Egerton and Richard Madden – who plays Elton’s manager John Reid.
And now, Elton said he didn’t want to ‘airbrush’ the sex scene ‘under the carpet and said he was ‘so joyous’.
He said: “If I am telling my story, it has to be honest.
”I was a virgin until then. I was desperate to be loved and desperate to have a tactile relationship.
”When they tear their clothes off in the movie, that was how it happened. It was in San Francisco.
”I’m so glad it’s in there because I am a gay man and I didn’t want to airbrush it under the carpet.
”This is who I am, and I was so joyous. When he is lying in my arms and I’m sitting back with a smile I’m thinking, ‘Ah, I’m normal, I’ve had sex’…
”I’m proud Rocketman is the first major studio film with a gay love sex scene in it. If I’d left it out, I’d have felt I was cheating people.
”If they don’t like it, I understand, but it’s part of who I am. That night was a very, very important part.”
“I felt Richard’s penis… On my leg,” he tells Attitude. “We shot a scene where we are both naked on a bed and we are rolling around. I don’t really know how much further we could have gone.”
Rocketman is out in UK cinemas now!
Watch the trailer below: