"What does ‘A’ stand for?" — Elton John slams Elon Musk while receiving Legacy Award at the 2024 Attitude Awards

Legendary musician Sir Elton John sparked discussion last night at the 2024 Attitude Awards while accepting the prestigious Legacy Award.

On October 9, 2024, Elton John received a prestigious Attitude Award from Ed Sheeran and Vanessa Williams. During his acceptance speech, he aimed a pointed critique at Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and owner of X, calling him an "a***hole" —

"Is this the award? What does ‘A’ stand for? ‘A***hole’ comes to mind… but let’s not talk about Elon Musk tonight – let’s have a good time!" Sir Elton said.

This quip came about when Elton held the “A” shaped award and mused aloud about its potential meaning.

According to Connect Live, Attitude Awards is an annual event hosted by Attitude magazine, which celebrates achievements and contributions to the LGBTQ+ community. Thus, the "A" shaped award symbolizes the concept of "Attitude" inherent in the Attitude Awards.

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Elton John makes a quip about Elon Musk during the 2024 Attitude Awards acceptance speech

On Wednesday, Elton John made a rare appearance in London last night to receive the legacy award at Attitude Awards for his ongoing contributions to helping AIDS-affected people.

The 77-year-old musician is the second recipient of this award, following Princess Diana, who was honored in 2018. Prince Harry accepted the award on her behalf in recognition of her allyship and significant efforts to change the perception of HIV during the 1980s.

However, the evening took a brief turn when the musician jokingly remarked about Elon Musk, suggesting that the Tesla owner is an 'a***hole.' Moving on quickly after the quip, Elton John reflected on his journey and ups and downs and addressed how receiving this award brings him peace of mind:

"It’s been a long journey for me, with lots of ups and downs, and finally, peace of mind. Music saved me – when I was happy and when I was miserable," Elton began.

Furthermore, the musician implied that instead of playing concerts, he dedicates his time to managing the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) and assisting individuals in accessing nutritious meals —

"Instead of going out playing concerts, I delivered meals and saw what the real world was like. The EJAF became the real focus of my life," Elton said.

John expressed his happiness in being gay, affirming his love for his husband and their children. He also mentioned the unexpected benefits he has experienced as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, he praised the country and its progressive laws, indicating his contentment in living in a place that upholds rights for individuals like himself.

In his acceptance speech, John mentioned his efforts alongside his husband, David Furnish, to build a stronger foundation for individuals affected by AIDS. He also stated that Furnish currently serves as the CEO and chairman of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and proudly announced that they have raised $600 million for the cause.

John and Elon Musk have no publicly documented personal conflict or beef. However, in 2022, when Elon Musk acquired X (formerly Twitter), Elton announced on X that he was quitting X. Further, in a tweet, the singer stated that the reason he was quitting the platform was because he was concerned that it was allowing “misinformation to flourish unchecked.” At the time, Musk noticed the singer's exit, replying to the tweet asking what misinformation he was referring to.

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At the time of writing this article, Elon Musk has not commented publicly about Elton John's quip at the Attitude Awards.