Sir Elton John branded the criticism of straight actor Taron Egerton playing him in new biopic Rocketman as “bullshit”.
Taron has been blasted by some for taking on the role of the gay music icon in the film, claiming the the part should have been played by someone from the LGBTQ+ community.
However, Elton has made it clear that is not a viewpoint he has any time for.
Speaking to The Sun about the controversy of straight actors playing gay roles, he said: “That’s all bulls**t, I’m sorry.
“If people don’t like it, review-wise, or it doesn’t make one dollar, it’s the movie I wanted to make and that’s all that counts. I can look back and say, ‘You know what, I love it. I can live with it’.”
Taron himself has previously addressed the criticism, telling The Hollywood Reporter: ”I have spoken to gay people for whom it’s not a problem, and I’ve spoken to gay people for whom it is a problem.”
“I completely understand. But for my part, I’m an actor, and I did not get into acting to just play people like me. You have to draw the line somewhere, and I don’t want to live in a world where straight people play straight people and gay people play gay people.”
Richard Madden, who plays Elton’s love interest John Reid, recently told the Guardian that he thinks casting by sexuality is a “terrible route to go down.”
The film received its debut at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this week, but was met with a rather mixed reception from critics.
The film premieres in the UK on Monday.