Sir Elton John, the iconic musician, revealed that his declining vision has prevented him from witnessing the stage show for which he composed the music. During the lavish gala presentation of "The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical," he emotionally shared, "Though I've lost my sight and haven't been able to visually experience the performance, the joy of listening to it has been immense." The West End theater hosted a charity gala in honor of the Elton John AIDS Foundation on Sunday evening, drawing a star-studded crowd that included Anna Wintour, Lily Collins, and Donatella Versace.
The 77-year-old pop legend has been battling vision issues since contracting an infection in his right eye in July. While the specifics of his condition remain unclear, Sir Elton disclosed to ABC News' "Good Morning America" in November that the infection originated during a stay in the south of France. He lamented, "It's been four months since I've been unable to see, and my left eye isn't in the best shape either."
On the red carpet, Anna Wintour expressed her excitement to support Elton and hailed the musical as "thoroughly entertaining." When questioned whether the film and musical accurately reflect the fashion industry, the Vogue editor-in-chief deferred judgment to the audience, stating, "It's for them and for those I work with to determine if there are any parallels between Miranda Priestly and me." Rumors have persistently circulated that the character of Priestly was loosely inspired by Wintour.
"The Devil Wears Prada" narrates the journey of Andy, an ambitious young journalist who becomes the assistant to one of New York's most notorious fashion magazine editors, Miranda Priestly. American fashion designer Betsey Johnson enthused, "Everyone in the fashion world adores this show." The 82-year-old fortunately navigated the industry without having to "play the game," remarking, "When I first watched the film, I was grateful I missed out on all that chaos because I wouldn't have wanted to endure it."
Vanessa Williams, the American singer and actress, embodies the iconic role of the feared fashion magazine editor Miranda. TV personality Michelle Visage asserted that Williams, renowned for her roles in "Ugly Betty" and "Desperate Housewives," has always been the ideal choice to portray Priestly. Visage also commented on the industry's progress, expressing disbelief that Andy was deemed fat when she wore a size six in the film. "I hope things have evolved—we've witnessed more inclusivity, and I hope we continue to progress," she said.
Model Elizabeth Hurley opined that "every woman's body is now celebrated" and was eager to see "how this is portrayed in the theater production." However, singer Beverley Knight disagreed, stating she doesn't believe the fashion industry has made significant strides in its perception of women of various sizes.
Luke Evans, the actor from "Beauty and the Beast," confessed his affection for the film due to its "rich array of characters and egos" but admitted he had "no clue" why it became such a cultural phenomenon. He speculated, "Perhaps it's because fashion is ever-changing, but those at the top remain constant, providing an insider's glimpse behind the scenes." He added that he didn't see many similarities between Priestly and Wintour, as he's met "Anna many times, and she's delightful, so I don't think they're alike."
Comedian David Walliams and his mother were also in attendance, both expressing their confidence that the show would be "fantastic, even though we haven't seen it yet." They joked, "We're skipping 'Strictly Come Dancing' for this; that's how much we adore Elton."
