Hot on Facebook

Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Elton John Lost Lover to Suicide

Former beau couldn't reconcile Christianity, homosexuality

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 15, 2010 9:09 AM CDT

(Newser) – Saying it’s “the right timing,” Elton John and husband David Furnish have revealed that one of the singer’s past lovers committed suicide because he could not reconcile his strong Christian faith with his homosexuality. "I had absolutely no idea in the world he was going to do this," says the singer. "He threw himself under a truck." The revelation comes after the opening of a play John and Furnish produced together about the relationship between two gay men, one a Christian.

“There was so much grief," Sir Elton tells the Telegraph. Furnish elaborates on the sad story. “He was so tortured by the conflicting views between his sexuality and his strong religious beliefs that he chose to take his own life,” he says of the flame, unnamed "out of respect” for the family. But now, “it's the right timing for this. The religious divide between Right and Left has gotten wider, and so the rights of gay people never got back to where it was heading.”

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

Elton John and David Furnish at the Oscars. (AP Photo)

Sir Elton John. (AP Photo)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

For many, many years, he had a lot of demons stored away; a lot of skeletons in his closet. And he's learnt that a happy and burden-free life comes out of being honest. - David Furnish, on husband Elton John

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

CLICK BELOW TO VOTE

10%

64%

15%

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Getty Images

35 Brutally Honest Reasons Men Say No to Sex (The Stir)

Man in Mugshot Explains Why He Has Half a Head (HuffPost)

These Exes Were Spotted Making Out … and That's a Bad Thing (Bleacher Report)

Help! I'm Having an Incestuous Relationship With My Twin (Slate)

Which Celeb Dedicated Song to Her Famous Husband Despite Divorce Rumors? (NewsOne)

Partner Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 48 comments

Ayano Morimoto

Mar 17, 2010 5:45 AM CDT

It is a sad story. In Japan, those conflicts happen between his lifstyle and OTHERS attitude.
Mostly, people like this suicide guy are suffering for his life without understanding from others, I think.

Joan Short

Mar 17, 2010 1:13 AM CDT

Now wait a minute. To you people who are blaming religion or some group for the death of this young man, let me tell you to back up a minute. The story clearly states that the man involved could not resolve his homosexuality with his OWN strong Christian faith. This man made up his OWN mind about his faith, as is the personal right of every individual, and had his own personal conflict with resolving HIS beliefs with his lifestyle. You cannot blame other people or another group for the personal spiritual choice this man made. As for his action of suicide, that is tragic. Personally, I believe there was hope, if only he could have found it or stayed around long enough to find it. But, just as each person finds his/her own way spiritually, we can't go blaming religious groups for personal decisions people make. This man had apparently worked out his OWN faith and had come to terms with his beliefs, but couldn't come to terms with his homosexuality. Gosh, why do we always look to blame someone else for a person's decision? Look, I have my own beliefs and my own faith. Whatever decisions I make in my life, NO ONE is responsible for ANY choices I make, even the ones that are connected with my faith, except ME. In the same way, NO ONE is responsible for this man's choices and decisions, even the ones connected with his faith, other than HIM.

My heart goes out to those who loved him. I am sure they are grieving, and probably will have their pain brought back to the surface again with this new play.

793tango

Mar 16, 2010 11:16 PM CDT

I hope those of the Religious Right are happy with this...

What's Popular Now on Facebook

E-Cigarette Explodes in Man's Mouth

Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds Major Cash Inside

Telegraph (UK) (Source Grid »)

World • Celebrity • Health

suicide • Elton John • David Furnish • Christianity • homosexuality • religious beliefs • lover

More Newser Stories

Elton's Hubby Slams 'Narcissistic' Madonna

Globes win sets David Furnish off

(NEWSER) - The longstanding Elton John-Madonna feud showed no signs of cooling down last night, when John's husband David Furnish took to Facebook to slam Madonna after she beat out John in the best song category. "Madonna. Best song???? F**k off!!!" he wrote, according to TMZ . Furnish continued, "Madonna winning Best Original Song truly shows how these awards have nothing to do with merit. Her acceptance speech was embarrassing in it's narcissism. And her critisism of Gaga shows how desperate she really is." For his part, John looked none too pleased when the cameras cut to him during Madonna's acceptance speech (watch at left). More»

Elton John: In US, I'm '2nd-Class Citizen'

Singer's getting angry about gay-marriage ban

(NEWSER) - In Britain, they call him "Sir," but the United States makes him feel like a "second-class citizen," complains Elton John. Speaking in California, the AP reports that the new dad/singer swiped at the state's gay-marriage ban, saying that "as I get older, I get more angry about it." It's a different tune from the John who two years ago expressed satisfaction with his civil partnership in the UK, saying he didn't want to get married. More»

Elton John, Hubby Welcome Baby Boy

Child born to surrogate thrills couple, who give him quite the long name

(NEWSER) - Piano man Elton John and husband David Furnish have welcomed a baby boy into their lives. Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John was born Christmas Day to a surrogate mom in California whose identity has not been released, reports Us . "We are overwhelmed with happiness and joy," said John, 62, and Furnish, 48, in a joint statement. "We are very proud and happy parents." The two married in 2005 after 12 years together. The couple had planned to adopt a child with HIV but were refused permission because of John's age. Click to read some thoughts on the baby's name . More»

Meet Richard Simmons' Gay Lover

National Enquirer shocks the world once again

(NEWSER) - The latest National Enquirer has a scoop so big, it’s sure to blow your mind: Richard Simmons is gay! If that doesn't surprise you, perhaps you don't remember that if the fitness guru is gay, he’s still in the closet. A blogger posted the first page of the Enquirer piece, which introduces us to a porn star and hustler who claims to have been Simmons’ secret gay lover in the '80s. More»

Idol Tanking Because Ellen's Gay

Or it could be because the show kinda sucks now...

(NEWSER) - American Idol is floundering, and the director of Christian Newswire knows why: Because new judge Ellen DeGeneres is a lesbian. She’s a “left wing social activist” who spouts “lesbian one-liners” left and right, Gary McCullough writes, adding that “network television is on a pro-homosexuality bender" which Idol never should have joined. What’s next? Maybe “pro-pedophilia group NAMBLA” will get Roman Polanski a gig on Dancing With the Stars. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Elton John Lost Lover to Suicide