"Hope he is able to retain some vision"— Internet reacts to Elton John lamenting loss of eyesight during musical premiere

Legendary musician Elton John, 77, recently shared emotional remarks about his ongoing struggles with vision loss at the premiere of The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical in London on December 1, 2024.

Addressing the audience, the Rocket Man singer revealed that he could not physically see the performance due to the lasting effects of a severe eye infection that he contracted in July while vacationing in France. Despite his limitations, he expressed gratitude for his husband, David Furnish, whom he described as his "rock" during this challenging time.

The gala, held at the Dominion Theatre, marked a significant moment for the artist. It was staged to raise funds for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and featured many prominent figures, including Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.

Fans took to social media to share their thoughts on Elton John's struggles.

"I hope he's been able to retain some vision, but overall it's a blessing that his career is one where many fully blind people have still been incredibly productive, he can still compose and play. He's a lovely man and I wish only the best for him," one Reddit user commented.

"Hope he is able to retain some vision"— Internet reacts to Elton John lamenting loss of eyesight during musical premiere(image via @Ruh_Roh_Rastro/ Reddit)

"I'm not sure why that needs to be "revealed", i felt like that was implied with the earlier eyesight loss," another user commented.

"I mean that's what happens when you lose your eyesight. You can't see anymore," a user said.

The online discourse highlighted fans' admiration for Elton's resilience and their hope for his recovery.

"He's lived such a life, his memoir is well worth a read," a fan commented.

"I'm still so annoyed that Taron never got an Oscar nom for that role. He was a better Elton than Rami was Freddie. Rocketman was great," a user commented.

"Hopefully they can work around that and get an audio description done for him," another user said.

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Elton John reflects on vision loss and its impact on his creativity

Elton John's health challenges first came to light in September when he revealed that the infection had left him blind in one eye and with limited vision in the other. In a social media update, he explained that recovery was slow and expressed gratitude to his family and medical team for their unwavering care.

He later elaborated on Good Morning America in November, sharing that his impaired vision had disrupted his creative process, including delaying plans for his next album with longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin.

He described the experience as "flooring," explaining that he could no longer read or watch anything. Despite these setbacks, Elton John maintained optimism, stating that there was "hope and encouragement" for improvement.

The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical, based on the bestselling novel by Lauren Weisberger and the subsequent film, features music composed by Elton John.

Beyond the musical, Elton remains active in promoting his projects. His documentary Elton John: It's Never Too Late, set to debut on Disney+ on December 13, chronicles his illustrious five-decade career and features highlights like his historic farewell concert at Dodger Stadium.

Despite health hurdles, Elton recently achieved EGOT status, cementing his legacy as one of the most decorated artists in history.