Madonna is not the only woman Elton John has a beef with. The 68-year-old singer has not spoken to his 90-year-old mother, Sheila Farebrother, in years and she’s starting to miss her only son. So she’s done what any sensible mother of a gay icon would do: befriended an Elton John impersonator to fill her void.
It all started back in March when Farebrother turned 90. When the real Elton declined the invitation to attend the birthday bash, she enlisted an impersonator, Paul Bacon, to perform in his stead.
Related: Elton John: Madonna’s A “Fairground Stripper” Whose “Career Is Over”
Bacon is based in London and belongs to a group called Ultimate Elton. He did such a fine job that Farebrother stayed in touch with him after the party and the two have since struck up a friendship. They are in touch and Farebrother has gone to see Bacon perform several times in London.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
“She’s keeping in touch, which is very nice,” Bacon told the Times. “I get the odd email from her, which for me is quite surreal, given what I do. She genuinely loves the music. This is kind of a nod to him.”
Related: Elton John Reveals The Reason For His Controversial Relationship With Rush Limbaugh
Bacon admits he’s not entirely sure why Elton’s mother is so smitten by him, but you don’t have to be Freud to make some educated guesses.
“I don’t know [if watching me reminds her of her son],” he says. “It’s so difficult to say. Perhaps it’s a way of keeping in touch with the music. We do talk about him.”
He added: “From my point of view, it’s fascinating as a fan to hear some of the stories I’ve heard through the media and to hear them at first hand.”
No word just yet on how the real Elton feels about this unlikely friendship.
Related: Sir Elton John Wigs Out During Show, Calls Staffer A “C*nt”
Brian JC Kneeland
Why doesn’t she befriend her son?
Christopher Hayward
Because he is a pile of human garbage.
billjones
What kind of dick doesn’t go to his mother’s 90th birthday party?
Zodinsbrother
Just saying this was news in the UK months back.
Mykaels
Lord knows the history he has had with her. Way back in the day there were far fewer happy coming out of the closet hallmark stories as there were then.
Kieran
Call your mother!
John Kuehnle
Where do these stories come from?
Billy Budd
Every man knows the mother he has. I will not judge Elton. He might have his legitimate reasons for hatred.
tjr101
This is kinda sad really.
Ruhlmann
@Billy Budd: What kind of a stinky dick no shows his mother’s 90th birthday? Elton is okay nuzzling Rush Limbaugh’s ass but he doesn’t talk to his mother. Only someone more pathetic than John would defend that. Call your mother.
Ogre Magi
@billjones: Yeah this and his friendship with that pig Rush Limbaugh makes me think he is not a good person
meghanada
I doubt the beef has anything to do with the mom’s supposed homophobia.
If John could be friends with that trailer trash white rapper, he could be friends with a homophobic but nostalgic mom.
James Greenhill
Some gay guys have problems with their mothers/fathers
Finrod
@billjones: “What kind of dick doesn’t go to his mother’s 90th birthday party?”
Maybe the kind whose parents made sure that his childhood was hell. If my father hadn’t died 35 years ago, I’d put him down myself. Contrary to the beliefs of people who take the Brady Bunch Very Very Seriously, parents are often the absolutely worst people in their children’s lives, whether it’s physical abuse or narcissistic manipulation.
Damon Robbins
He and his husband should try to reconcile, I mean she’s 90 years old.
1EqualityUSA
Ten more years and she could be on Antiques Roadshow. Leave the patina, more valuable. At least we know who to blame for passing on this spawn. His own children will likely have the same kind of relationship, should this turd-blossom actually make it to 90. When he was young, he tried too hard. Now that he’s older, he doesn’t try hard enough.
Billy Budd
Parents can be brutal and destroy childrens lives. I will not judge Elton until I’ve heard his side of the story.