NEW YORK — Elton John says he supports the men and women coming forward amid the #Metoo movement, but warns against passing judgment on the accused without ‘due process.’
John sat down with CNN on Wednesday following his announcement that he is embarking on a three year farewell tour starting in September. When asked about how he thinks the #MeToo movement will play out at this weekend’s Grammy Awards where he is scheduled to perform, he said it will be “interesting” to see how musicians use their performances or speeches to address the recent wave of sexual misconduct allegations that has affected various industries, including Hollywood.
“We live in a funny time, a disturbing time at the moment, when people are accusing people of doing this and that and it’s all happened because of Harvey Weinstein, quite rightly so,” John said.
Dozens of women have accused Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct, including allegations of rape. Weinstein, through a spokeswoman, has repeatedly denied all allegations non-consensual sex.
Since the New York Times and the New Yorker magazine broke the Weinstein’s story last October, scores of women and men have publicly shared their personal stories of sexual harassment and assault. Dozens of high-profile men have been terminated from lucrative jobs after they were outed for their alleged behavior.
John sympathizes with the accusers, but said that the accused should be properly investigated before losing their jobs.
“I don’t agree with people being accused of something and not having due process, I think that’s bad,” John said on Wednesday. “I think people who have been accused of something shouldn’t be dropped from television series until they are proved to be guilty. But on the other hand, I can understand how women have been abused since time began.”
John also praised the women who have spoken up about the gender wage gap.
“I think that is a big thing and it’s happening in England. A lot and people are saying, ‘I’m only getting paid this and he’s getting paid that,'” John said. “I think women have had it bad for a long time and they are trying to sort it out and make it better for themselves.”
John is no stranger to sexual harassment allegations. In March 2016, he was sued by a personal security guard for alleged battery, sexual battery and sexual harassment. A rep for John denied the accusations at that time and in November 2016 told the BBC, “The case was withdrawn, with no payment made.”
John himself was accused of sexual harassment in March 2016, when a personal security guard, who alleged battery, sexual battery and sexual harassment, filed a lawsuit against the musician. John denied the accusations at that time. In November of that year, John’s representative told the BBC, “The case was withdrawn, with no payment made.”
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