Sir Elton John made a shocking appearance at Kevin Spacey’s trial yesterday, poking fun at the Queen – saying he wouldn’t notice if she waited outside a show.
The singer gave his name as ‘Elton Hercules John’, not his birth name Reginald Dwight, when asked to identify himself as a defense witness.
Judges gasped in amazement as photos of the 76-year-old were beamed onto screens via video link from an office in Monaco.
He was called to answer questions about one of Spacey’s alleged victims, who claims he was attacked on his way to a Sir Elton ball.
Over the next 20 minutes, the superstar was questioned in an extraordinary hearing about his White Tie and Tiara charity events, theatrical appearances and his chauffeured lifestyle.
Sir Elton John was shocked at Kevin Spacey’s trial yesterday and joked about the Queen. Sir Elton is pictured on July 14
Jurors gasped in surprise as photos of the 76-year-old were beamed onto screens via video link from an office in Monaco (pictured in a court portrait)
Spacey is accused of grabbing his crotch while driving to Sir Elton’s ball, nearly causing the alleged victim to go off the road. He is pictured arriving at court on Monday
But when it came to the case, Sir Elton had no recollection of ever meeting the alleged victim. In an inauspicious start, the judge greeted him with the question, “Sir Elton can you see and hear us?” to which the star gruffly replied, “Not really.”
After some volume adjustment, the singer was asked for a photo of him leaving London’s Victoria Palace Theater after a performance of the Billy Elliot musical.
But he couldn’t recall ever meeting the alleged victim and telling the jurors that he paid no attention to the crowd when he left after a show.
“When I come out of the theatre, it’s always a mad rush to get in the car,” said Sir Elton, pictured. “Anyone who is on my periphery, I wouldn’t notice them. It could be the Queen and I wouldn’t notice her.’ He wrote the music for the show which received critical acclaim in the West End in 2005.
He was later asked if he remembered 63-year-old Spacey appearing at his White Tie and Tiara Ball in 2001.
Sir Elton replied, ‘He arrived in white tie. He was in a private jet and came straight to the ball.’
When asked if the actor had traveled directly there, Sir Elton wryly replied, “I suppose so, I don’t think he would wear a white tie on a commercial flight.”
Chuckling at the answer, the defendant rocked back and forth in his chair in the harbor of Southwark Crown Court, London.
Sir Elton told the Spacey trial that he couldn’t recall ever meeting any of the actor’s alleged victims, joking, “Anyone who’s in my periphery I wouldn’t notice.” It could be the Queen and I wouldn’t notice her’ (pictured is the late Queen Elizabeth II)
Spacey seemed to chuckle at Sir Elton’s answer. The actor has been pictured in a court sketch from Monday
At times, the singer struggled to hear over the video link, muttering, “Sorry? What?’, asking an assistant next to him to repeat the questions.
He remembered that Spacey had bought a red Mini at a charity auction at prom, but Sir Elton didn’t know what had happened to the car.
The star went on to say that he preferred to be chauffeur driven, but occasionally sits in the front with his driver. ‘Usually I pick the CDs, and whoever drives puts them on,’ Sir Elton added.
His husband David Furnish also gave evidence and recalled the alleged victim, whom he described as “affable, charming and an easygoing person” who was remarkably handsome.
Spacey is accused of grabbing his crotch while driving to Sir Elton’s ball, nearly causing the alleged victim to go off the road. The date of the event is disputed.
The court also heard that Spacey stayed overnight at the singer’s house after the prom.
The actor cried during the hearing as his lawyer Patrick Gibbs read KC supportive statements from friends, family and fellow actors.
Between 2001 and 2013, he denies four charges of indecent assault, seven charges of sexual assault, one charge of soliciting unauthorized sexual activity, and one charge of soliciting penetrative sexual activity without consent.
The process continues.