Five times Elton John did something more significant than fall off a chair

Dec 09 2014
Written by Alexis Holt

If you have been online in the past 24 hours (presumably you have otherwise how are you reading this?) you can’t have missed the now viral footage of Sir Elton John falling off a chair.

The fateful incident took place at the Statoil Masters tennis competition at the Royal Festival Hall, providing entertainment for thousands.

But the hilarity aside, here are five times Sir Elton did more important things than just fall off a chair.

1. The times he spoke out at Russian concerts about the country’s anti-gay law

Various videos of the Rocket Man star speaking out in support of LGBT Russians appeared online after performances including one in Moscow.

He even said he would go back to perform, and would raise the issue of the anti-gay law with Putin.

2. His (ongoing) tireless work through the Elton John AIDS Foundation to fight the spread of HIV

Sir Elton John continues to speak of the importance of removing the stigma surrounding HIV, and works to put millions of pounds towards eradicating HIV through his foundation.

This year’s post-Oscar party raised an estimated $5.1m (£3.05m) for Sir Elton’s charity, which supports HIV/AIDS programmes in 55 countries, and on the advance in medication and awareness, he said: “We can see a light at the end of the tunnel.”

3. When he made efforts to tackle LGBT homelessness in the US a public service announcement

Sir Elton joined Jamie Foxx and other Hollywood stars appear in a public service announcement (PSA) raising awareness about homeless LGBT youth in Los Angeles.

4. By standing up to support same-sex marriage in the UK

He in 2013 called on the government not to concede to the opponents of equal marriage and says he would “love nothing more than to make history again” by turning his civil partnership into a marriage.

“Until the law recognises David Furnish is my husband, and not merely my partner, the law won’t describe the man I know and adore”.

5. By showing that same-sex couples can be the head of loving families

Even when the BBC’s News at Six featured a right-wing fundamentalist Christian who had previously supported the execution of gay people to comment on the birth of a surrogate son to Sir Elton.

So there are just a few reasons Sir Elton should be recognised for more than just falling off his chair… even if it was very entertaining.