Elton John, a close friend of the late pop icon Michael Jackson, has opened up about the toll that fame took on the singer’s mental health. In his recently released memoir, Elton describes their friendship and how he witnessed Michael’s transformation over the years.
Elton, who is now 72 years old, first met Michael when the latter was just 13 years old. He remembers him as “the most charming youngster you could imagine.” However, as Michael’s fame grew, Elton noticed a change in his behavior.
“Just like Elvis Presley, Michael began to withdraw from reality and the outside world,” Elton reflects. “Whenever I saw him as an adult, I always assumed he had gone insane. What was going on in his mind? Why did he rely so heavily on medication?”
Elton reveals that it was only recently that he learned the full extent of Michael’s mental health struggles. “He claimed to be severely mentally ill and difficult to be around,” Elton shares. In fact, during one of Elton’s parties, Michael got lost and was found playing with the housekeeper’s son. It became evident that he preferred the company of children over adults.
In his memoir, Elton also opens up about his own personal challenges, including his difficult relationship with his late mother, Sheila Farebrother. He acknowledges that his upbringing was not an easy one.
Elton and his husband, David Furnish, have two sons together, eight-year-old Zachary and six-year-old Elijah. However, Sheila has never met her grandsons. Elton admits that his mother never approved of David and their relationship.
While the lack of a relationship between Sheila and her grandchildren may seem unfortunate, Elton shares his relief. “I’m glad they didn’t know her because they would have experienced the same disapproval that she showed me,” he confesses.
Elton’s memoir sheds light on the challenges faced by two iconic musicians and the impact that fame can have on one’s mental well-being. It serves as a reminder that behind the glitz and glamour, celebrities are still human, with their own struggles and demons to conquer.
