Elton John Calls Taiwan Media 'Rude, Vile Pigs'

[deez nuts]

TAIPEI (Reuters) - British rock star Elton John (news), in Taipei for a concert, swore at reporters who swarmed around him at the airport Thursday and called them "rude, vile pigs."

Wearing a bright blue tracksuit and dark sunglasses, the star shouted expletives as he was mobbed by photographers and TV crew.


"Rude, vile pigs!" he shouted at the reporters at the Chiang Kai Shek airport after he arrived shortly after midnight.


"Do you know what that means? Rude, vile pigs. That's what all of you are."


One of the photographers shouted back: "Why don't you get out of Taiwan?"

John replied: "We'd love to get out of Taiwan if it's full of people like you. Pig! Pig!"


The star, who recently performed in Shanghai and Hong Kong, is scheduled to leave after his first performance in Taiwan on Thursday.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=762&e=1&u=/nm/20040923/en_nm/entertainment_taiwan_elton_dc

oink oink

[SunWuKong]

hahah too fucking bad. i hope the Taiwanese entertainment gossip magazines fucking bury him.

[Banana]

There goes the neighborhood.

[bluemonq]

a taiwanese perspective:
http://www.ettoday.com/2004/09/23/11195-1690202.htm

Elton John swore at the media in Taiwan
British rock star Elton John arrived in Taiwan early Wednesday morning, but the rock star already had a rocky start with the media at the airport. The superstar didn’t seem to enjoy media attention and shouted back and forth with the local media using some “unsophisticated” language.

The media immediately surrounded the British rock star as soon as he stepped out of the elevator. The rock star didn’t seem to enjoy his debut media appearance and started shouting. Although his assistant tried to mediate the situation, the rock star just couldn’t help it and started getting louder.

After his verbal battle with the media, the rock star retired into a resting lounge at the airport for about half an hour, but he eventually had to come out to go through customs. On his way to customs the rock star continued his “verbal exchange” with some photographers, while his bodyguards pushed into the camera lenses.

The superstar once again became irritated as soon as he saw the cameras following his footsteps. Finally the rock royalty made it to customs, but even then he could not hide his frustration. Once again he shouted at the media.

Looks like the people of Taiwan definitely got a good look at the sullen side of this superstar. First, it was changing his schedule numerous times then shouting at the local media, which makes it seem like he was not happy to be here. We guess that’s why we call them all superstars right?


a british perspective:
http://www.sky.com/showbiz/article/0,,50001-1152742,00.html

Elton Screams: 'You Pigs!'

Highly-strung pop star Elton John has launched an astonishing attack on the Taiwanese press after arriving at Taipei airport.

The pint-sized singer started muttering expletives at the press after touching down in a private jet for the last date of his Asia tour.

Wearing a royal blue track-suit and matching sunglasses he then started yelling: "Rude vile pigs!

"Do you know what that means? Rude vile pigs. That's what all of you are."

When one of the photographers shouted back "Why don't you get out of Taiwan?", he replied: "We'd love to get out of Taiwan if it's full of people like you. Pig! Pig!"

A spokeswoman for Sir Elton said security officials had failed to protect him from photographers trying to "disrupt his progress".

But she said he would "bravely" carry on with the concert.

It is the latest prima donna-like behaviour by the outrageously-attired Candle in the Wind and Rocket Man singer.

A fly-on-the-wall documentary called Tantrums and Tiaras, made by partner David Furnish, showed him repeatedly losing his temper.

At one point he went beserk after a woman waved at him when he was playing tennis. He swore never to visit southern France again.

British stars have clashed with the over-enthusiastic Taiwanese media before.

In 2001 Robbie WIlliams was cornered by journalists accusing him of using a swear-word in relation to Taiwan.

He told them "I didn't insult your country - I will insult you" before fleeing the airport.

[thaite]

Does Taiwan really want has-beens like Elton John hanging around, anyway?

[Faithless]

There is something about Sir Elton's comments that strikes me as being more than a comment toward news-media types.

It smells of bigotry on his part.

[Banana]

Is it just me or does he look more and more like an elf with each passing day? An ogre actually. He should pitch a tent under a bridge and chew on bones.

[SunWuKong]

Is it just me or does he look more and more like an elf with each passing day? An ogre actually. He should pitch a tent under a bridge and chew on bones.

a midget ogre who is a neutral evil bard.

[Arex]

I actually like the dude's music, but what the fuck was that about?? Being mobbed by the media can't be something that's new to him. He's a supastar, after all. I wonder what was behind the strong reaction. PMS? Bad hair day? I, too, smell bigotry. I hope he gets egged onstsage in his pretty outfits.

RX

[moser]

Why did they call him a rock star?

[rice cracker]

How ironic. Elton John, who could easily, so easily be called a vile "something" *cough* thus labelling a group of people.

Of course, he was really into Pricess Diana, maybe he has a chip on his shoulder towards paparazzi in general.

[Fireblade]

Too bad for him I guess. At least he could have had a steady gig playing there while the rest of the world forgets about him. Oh well.

[Faithless]

Of course, he was really into Pricess Diana, maybe he has a chip on his shoulder towards paparazzi in general.
It's a combination of the paprazzi thing and a twinge of bigotry.

He can make it up by appologizing at his concert, and singing, "Sorry Seems to be the hardest words". :rolleyes:

Or giving everybody in the audience a new car.

[ellsworth81]

filthy taiwanese

[tvbdude]

filthy taiwanese

what's your problem?

[yoMAMA]

what the fuck?!?!?!

:tongue:

[truMp]

Anyone think he may have a hint of racism within him? Just opening up ideas.

[kimpossible]

what's your problem?

eh... i think he was being sarcastic? :confused: i hope.

[deez nuts]

eh... i think he was being sarcastic :confused:

he was being catty like elton john.

**MEOW**HISS**

[kimpossible]

he was being catty like elton john.

**MEOW**HISS**

or maybe he was fantasizing.

[ellsworth81]

i am actually a racist white guy. i had all you suckas fooled. =P

my respect for elton john has gone up a notch .... just like when Cheney told that Senator to fuck himself.
.
.
.
and yes, i was being sarcastic, but not about my newfound respect for sir john

[Banana]

"Uhhh, Sir Elton, we seem to have an image problem. The general Taiwan public pictures you as some sort of ogre."

"I'll rip their flesh and chew on their bones!"

[bluemonq]

and yes, i was being sarcastic, but not about my newfound respect for sir john
umm.... why? what exactly did he do was so great? if racism wasn't involved, then he was shouting at some paparazzi...

[rocketbunny]

ew...elton john...

[ellsworth81]

umm.... why? what exactly did he do was so great? if racism wasn't involved, then he was shouting at some paparazzi...

didn't seem racist to me. he didnt refer to the Chinese or Koreans or whatever as pigs when he was in other asian countries.

the nature of his comments amused me - who calls people "pigs" these days?? :smile:

[bluemonq]

didn't seem racist to me. he didnt refer to the Chinese or Koreans or whatever as pigs when he was in other asian countries.

the nature of his comments amused me - who calls people "pigs" these days?? :smile:
ok, so i *was* probably reading a bit too much into it. but what does it have to do with respect? :confused: