Sir Elton John is begging politicians around the world not to pull the pin on research for eradicating HIV/AIDS.
In a cover story for Variety, the pop superstar called out a lack of political support for combating the lethal epidemic, saying that politicians have the ability to help bring an end to the disease in our lifetimes.
“I just am enraged by it,” John said. “It’s very frustrating when you’ve got the tools in your hand to end it, and then you find that countries in Africa, Russia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe won’t help.”
Turning his attention to the US, John praised the efforts of the current administration to bring an end to the war in Gaza, while calling them out for fumbling an issue as vital as ending HIV and AIDS.
“There’s another war with people who are suffering from HIV and AIDS that should be able to get their medicine but can’t, because governments won’t let them. It’s inhumane,” he said. “So my big beef at the moment is, yes, thank God, maybe there’s peace, after more things are sorted out. But there are crimes against millions of other people that are happening because of governments and stigma and hate.”
John’s non-profit Elton John AIDS Foundation is currently the fifth largest funder for research into the disease globally. To date, the organisation has helped raise more than $650 million (£494 million) for the cause.
The Candle in the Wind singer also offered an update on his ailing sight.
He contracted an eye infection while on holiday in France last year, and is now fully blind in his right eye and only partially sighted in his left.
“It’s been devastating,” the star admitted. “Because I lost my right eye and my left eye’s not so good, the past 15 months have been challenging for me because I haven’t been able to see anything, watch anything, read anything.”
