While I think you are a terrific artist, and a wonderful humanitarian, I have to disagree with the publishing of the photo entitiled "Klara and Edda belly-dancing". As the mother of a 3 year old girl, I find it disgusting. It may have been taken innocently, but the girls could have been told to put some clothes on prior to snapping the picture. I understand you did not take the picture personally and that you purchased it from an artist. However, you did purchase it and you did publish and publically display it so the responsibility now lies with you!

Thank you for making the decision to close this exhibit. However I cant quite understand why your reason to close it was based on "the artisitic integrity of the work and the artist" and not for the integrity and privacy of those 2 little girls!! Now the pictures are all over the internet. All you have to do is google "Klara and Edda belly-dancing" and there it is for the entire world to see. Including pedophiles, rapists and child predators. That is what disturbs me the most!!!!!! I am sorry to rant like this. I have never done anything like this before. However, I have never felt more compelled to voice my opinion. I hope you take my feelings as well as the feelings of millions of other people, to heart! ps: the 2 kudos are for the decision to close the exhibit and not for anything else! Thank you for your attention Mr. John.
 

Kelly you make no sense. And thanks for telling me how to find the pics of the girls. I'll do a google search now to see for myself. Sounds like everything must disturb you Kelly. And its Sir Elton John, not Mr.
 

While I think you are a terrific artist, and a wonderful humanitarian, I have to disagree with the publishing of the photo entitiled "Klara and Edda belly-dancing". As the mother of a 3 year old girl, I find it disgusting. It may have been taken innocently, but the girls could have been told to put some clothes on prior to snapping the picture. I understand you did not take the picture personally and that you purchased it from an artist. However, you did purchase it and you did publish and publically display it so the responsibility now lies with you!

Thank you for making the decision to close this exhibit. However I cant quite understand why your reason to close it was based on "the artisitic integrity of the work and the artist" and not for the integrity and privacy of those 2 little girls!! Now the pictures are all over the internet. All you have to do is google "Klara and Edda belly-dancing" and there it is for the entire world to see. Including pedophiles, rapists and child predators. That is what disturbs me the most!!!!!! I am sorry to rant like this. I have never done anything like this before. However, I have never felt more compelled to voice my opinion. I hope you take my feelings as well as the feelings of millions of other people, to heart! ps: the 2 kudos are for the decision to close the exhibit and not for anything else! Thank you for your attention Mr. John.
 

The photos are part of a public photographic exhibit, not part of a private collection or a revelation that he's been viewing child pornography via the internet, or anything like that. Only a so-called "good Christian" would find anything remotely immoral about this exhibit, since it's probably more of what you're thinking than anything he was thinking. Elton buys a lot of artwork and has for many years. Get a clue and grip on reality. It makes me sick to see you publicly bashing Elton, when he has done so much good for people. Read St. Matthew's Sermon on the Mount, and stop being so judgmental!
 

Kelly,
Butch up, please, stop taking things so seriously.
 

Kelly,

This is an innocent picture. I do not find it offensive in the least. I will say that it is not the kind of picture I would buy or hang in my house. Still I think you are overreacting to the picture. I doubt that pedophiles, rapists and child predators care about this picture. I am not an expert on their motivation however.

I think it was probably a good idea to close the exhibit at this point. Child pornography and child predators are a hot topic right now. I would hate to see someone like Elton misunderstood because of the ignorance of others (myself included) regarding his art collection. I am far from an expert on art. My biggest art purchase has been an Ansel Adams photo.

Elton, you should be more careful in the future. Keep in mind that peoples taste are not as open-minded as your own. What they don't like, they can often times be offended by. It is not right, but it is a fact. Not only that, but those offended often times have no problem inflicting their views on everybody else.

Kelly, I am not trying to say you are wrong for your views. It is your opinion and you are entitled to it. I am also a parent and I am concerned about a lot of the same things you are. This photo is not part of the problem though (in my opinion).

Rick
 

This whole thing is rediculous! The only reason they are going after you is because you are a gay man. This picture has been available to the world for years. This is in no way child pornography. If the general public would stop pointing to the government to take care of their children and instead do it themselves, they'd be much less worried about a photograph their child will likely never see and more worried about the guy on the park bench ogling the children while mom/dad is busy gabbing and sipping lattes with other "playdate parents".
 

I see this as art, but we live in a screwed up world. Elton, I respect you choice in art , and it is such Our country is much more judgemental then most. You are in the public eye and I would hate to see people trash you as they have done in the past. You are in the public eye and every little tantrum , fued comment you make gets in the papers . This hurts when I hear people go off on you.You are human 1st and fore most,but being famous as you are,you are still a target. I would never even think of you changing who you are to suit others. That would be outragous!!!!!
BUT PLEASE BE CAREFUL!! yOU FANS LOVE YOU , WHEN YOU HURT , WE HURT.


sINCERELY ,
eLIZABETH mCGEORGE
 

I see this as art, but we live in a screwed up world. Elton, I respect you choice in art , and it is such Our country is much more judgemental then most. You are in the public eye and I would hate to see people trash you as they have done in the past. You are in the public eye and every little tantrum , fued comment you make gets in the papers . This hurts when I hear people go off on you.You are human 1st and fore most,but being famous as you are,you are still a target. I would never even think of you changing who you are to suit others. That would be outragous!!!!!
BUT PLEASE BE CAREFUL!! YOU FANS LOVE YOU , WHEN YOU HURT , WE HURT.


SINCERELY ,
ELIZABETHMCGEORGE
 

I totally agree with you. To me it's even less of a matter of it being innocent or not, but it being really poor photography in my opinion.
 

Well if that photograph is art then I don't know the definition of art...

I agree with Kelly and I'm quite disappointed.
 

All I can say is that I love you man. Always did and always will. God Bless You and your beautiful songs that you bring into this world. The times that I have been down, certain songs of yours have lifted me up and pulled me out of the hole. I don't know what pics these people are talking about, but I know that you wouldn't do anything malicious to hurt anyone. God Bless!
 

Anyone who finds the picture in any way offensive has issues of their own. It is perfectly natural and normal for little girls to play that way i know mine did when they were younger. I feel society as a whole has become so over protective that children are not allowed to be children any more. The boogie man is out there yes but not around every corner and in every home. Children will learn soon enough about the dangers of the world. Do not teach them as babies their body is a shameful thing that should be hidden teach them it should be held sacred and protected. And that NO ONE has the right to touch them or do anything that makes them feel uncomfortable.
 

Only thing I can say is your the best, I've listened to you for years and have always loved your music and your style. Your simply amazing.
 

Kudos and ditto with Theresa.
 

"And that NO ONE has the right to touch them or do anything that makes them feel uncomfortable."

Especially splashing pictures of them naked in exhibitions and all over the internet.Sorry I disagree, and I also think that even though he's a special artist with epic songs which have the most beautiful melodies and which everyone listens to anytime (taking myself as example), that doesn't mean that I have to agree with everything he does!
 

pay no attion to those fouls, your art is perfect. god bless you forever, elton. with my deepest love, bobbi v.
 

Art is relative. Just because someone does not see it as art, that doesn't mean that its not. We as a society have put negative connotations on our "no no places." It is still a part of us, just like our arms or legs. What is the big deal. If there wasn't such a stigma there would be no issue at all. It is a little girl. It was not taken with any ill intent. Find something else to bitch about, like the deaths and hardship in Iraq. What about all of our nice clothes that we where? Guess who makes them little girls like the one in the picture from other countries. Children as young as 5 are making your Wal-mart clothes. That pisses me off. So I am taking away your little soap box and retiring it Kelly. Keep doing what you do Elton, you do not answer to these folks. xoxoxoxox


RANDA
 

And with all this having been said by all of these above people, Elton John probably doesn't even have anything to do with this MySpace site (it is surely run by others...as a fanclub site).  He (Elton) has probably never even looked at his MySpace webpage before, and probably isn't even aware of this blog entry, of any of these comments made about the picture, or about any of the other blog entries or comments on this webpage.  He is too busy doing more important things....other people run this.
So, I am sure you have all been venting to and among yourselves....I'm sure he has not read or heard about any of your complaints.
Also, why complain that this exhibition has been closed with regards to the integrity and work of the artist, instead of because of the two girls in the pic?  Chances are that the real reason the exhibit was closed was because of the pic, and in order to protect the girls in it.  But giving the public a different reason for closing it may have been to avoid more negative publicity and attention.  It (giving a false reason) may have just been the easier thing to do for everyone involved.