Mother tells of Elton John rift
Elton John’s mother has revealed why she has not spoken to the star in seven years, and how he said that he “hated” her.
Sheila Farebrother told how she believed the multi-Grammy award winning star’s husband David Furnish had a controlling influence over the singer’s life.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Mrs Farebrother explained the rift with her son started over a “petty” argument when he asked her to cut ties with two of her oldest friends, who had also been part of his early success, Bob Halley and John Reid.
But the 90-year-old flat out refused.
“Then to my utter amazement, he told me he hated me. And he banged the phone down. Imagine. To me, his mother,” she said.
The strained relationship was highlighted again recently when Mrs Farebrother hired an Elton John tribute act to perform at her 90th birthday party.
Prompted by the milestone birthday, Elton got in touch with his mother for the first time in seven years, sending her white orchids.
However the widow says it is up to her son to try and reconcile the relationship, but that she wants nothing to do with Furnish.
She said: “I am happy now. I’ve got over all the hurt of those seven years. I’ve got over all the nasty things and the hurtfulness.
“And really, Furnish doesn’t want to be with me and I certainly don’t want to be with him.”
Mrs Farebrother has still not met the couple’s two sons, and Elton did not attend his stepfather’s funeral when he died in 2008.
However, the singer continues to support his mother financially, paying for her home and medical bills.
