The annual event — which last year raised over $12 million for the singer’s Aids Foundation — has raked in more than $60 million since the first event in 1998.
“The theme this year is ‘beach party’,” says Elton’s longtime partner David Furnish. “So, we’ve got Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys playing. The aim every year is to get people to say it was the best one yet. It’s still a party in your home and Elton and I like to shake everybody’s hand personally. There is no us and them.”
Beyond the money raised tonight, Elton’s aim is to push the “safe sex” message, adds David. “We can’t just sit back and think that everything is fine now,” he says. “In the Eighties there was a message that it was a gay disease but actually, almost 50 per cent of new infections are women. I hope people realise that now.”
Other A-list invitees included Bill Clinton and daughter Chelsea Clinton, the ever present Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, Mischa Barton (we can’t explain it either!), Chinese actress Ziyi Zhang and Rod Stewart and his whole clan.
7 Comments
“No Glove No Love” should be the name of the ball.
And to the haters out there - - Kiss My Ass
that’s great that they’ve raised so much for AIDS. I don’t care for Elton, but gotta give him props for that.
I saw Elton on Saturday in Vegas and he was amazing!!!! Bless you Sir Elton!!!
Love Elton and his big heart. I also love that she keeps wearing that damn tiara every chance she gets. You know the other women at these white tie rocker events aren’t wearing tiaras (well maybe Elton is) & are laughing their asses off.
Damn !!! Liz is a good looking woman….
Elton is a wonderful musician but I’m not a fan of his diva-ish personality. Apparently he is just impossible to work with. I think the work he and his husband have done for AIDS though is fabulous. Congrats to them. Liz is looking as gorgeous as ever here, I think the tiara suits her, even if it does look a little silly.