Elton John Performing Bonnaroo - H 2014
Wade Payne/Invision/APSir Elton John is done with Dolce & Gabbana.
The 67-year-old music legend said he is boycotting the designers after they told Italian magazine Panorama that they consider children born through in vitro fertilization to be “synthetic.” The fashion plates added that they “oppose gay adoption” and that IVF pregnancies are “chemical offsprings and rented uterus.”
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On Sunday, John — who has two sons with husband David Furnish — posted a photo to Instagram of the designers, writing in the caption: “How dare you refer to my beautiful children as ‘synthetic.’ And shame on you for wagging your judgmental little fingers at IVF — a miracle that has allowed legions of loving people, both straight and gay, to fulfill their dream of having children.
“Your archaic thinking is out of step with the times, just like your fashions,” continued the singer. “I shall never wear Dolce and Gabbana ever again. #BoycottDolceGabbana.”
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Tennis great Martina Navratilova tweeted her support for John’s post. “Right on, Elton and David,” she wrote. “My D&G shirts are going in the bin — don’t want ANYONE to wear them.”
Stefano Gabbana made similar statements in a 2006 interview, telling an Italian publication that he is “opposed to the idea of a child growing up with two gay parents. A child needs a mother and a father.”
John’s and Navratilova’s messages can be seen below.
Right on Elton and David http://t.co/qmORSvTnUe My D&G shirts are going in the bin- don’t want ANYONE to wear them
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) March 15, 2015
The designers have since spoken out against the backlash, taking to Instagram to defend their position. “We firmly believe in democracy and the fundamental principle of freedom of expression that upholds it,” said Gabbana in a statement. “We talked about our way of seeing reality, but it was never our intention to judge other people’s choices. We do believe in freedom and love.”
Domenico Dolce added: “I’m Sicilian and I grew up in a traditional family, made of a mother, a father and children. I am very well aware of the fact that there are other types of families and they are as legitimate as the one I’ve known. But in my personal experience, family had a different configuration and that is the place where I learnt that value of love and family. This is the reality in which I grew up, but it does not imply that I don’t understand different ones. I was talking about my personal views without judging other people’s choices and decisions.”
Much like the way others have shared their thoughts on the matter, Gabbana has expressed his opinion with more than 50 Instagrams, ranging from screenshots of the designers making headlines to comments from supporters.
10:05 a.m. Monday, March 16: Updated with statements from Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce.
Email: Ryan.Gajewski@thr.com
Twitter: @_RyanGajewski
