Last week, Sir Elton John disclosed a heartbreaking health update about losing his vision in an interview for his upcoming Disney+ documentary Elton John: Never Too Late. According to new reports and videos from people who attended a West End charity gala night from The Devil Wears Prada musical, the legendary singer delivered a speech in which he got even more candid about his eyesight issues.
On Sunday, December 1, the Daily Mail reported on the charity gala night of The Devil Wears Prada musical at London's Dominion Theatre on the West End. John — who wrote the music for this stage production — attended the event with his husband David Furnish.
The couple took to the stage to deliver a speech after the show ended, and John went on to share a very candid update about his eyesight. "As some of you may know, I have had issues, and now I've lost my sight," he explained. "I haven't been able to see the performance, but I have enjoyed it."
John reportedly added, "To my husband, who's been my rock, because I haven't been able to come to many of the previews… it's hard for me to see it. But I love to hear it, and it sounded good tonight. Thank you for coming."
@aeronjamesukElton John and David Furnish’s speeches during the curtain call at the gala performance for the musical The Devil Wears Prada (@The Devil Wears Prada Musical) at @Dominion Theatre in London’s West End! ❤️👠 {pr invite} #vanessawilliams #thedevilwearsprada #devilwearsprada #stagey #curtaincall #westend #londontheatre #theatre #theater #theatretiktok #theatertiktok #musicaltheatre #musicaltheater #eltonjohn #shainataub @Elton John
Audience members captured John's speech and shared those videos on social media.
The singer first opened up about this health issue while promoting his new Disney+ documentary Elton John: Never Too Late on Good Morning America. He explained:
"I unfortunately lost my eyesight in my right eye in July, because I had an infection in the south of France. It's been four months now since I haven't been able to see. My left eye is not the greatest. There's hope and encouragement that it will be OK, but I'm kind of stuck in the moment."
Following those initial remarks, some fans hoped that John's vision wasn't in such a bad state yet. And yet, concerns have only grown after seeing the singer praise The Devil Wears Prada musical while admitting that he wasn't actually "able to see the performance."
Starring Vanessa Williams as Miranda Priestly, Georgie Buckland as Andy Sachs, Amy Di Bartolomeo as Emily Charlton, and Matt Henry as Nigel Owens, The Devil Wears Prada musical is one of the most recent projects that had John's involvement.
This December 2024, the powerhouse singer and pop culture icon will give the world another peek inside his life in the Disney+ documentary film Never Too Late, which was named after a song of the same name by John in collaboration with Brandi Carlile.
The "I'm Still Standing" singer is certainly going through an era that personifies what that hit song is all about. Nonetheless, he continues to be sincere and optimistic, and is still choosing to live as his most authentic self.
Elton John: Never Too Late premieres Friday, December 13 on Disney+. For tickets and more information about The Devil Wears Prada musical on the West End, you can visit DevilWearsPradaMusical.com.
