The Elton John AIDS foundation managed to raise $5.1 million
on the occasion of its 16th annual Academy Awards viewing party on
Sunday night, United Press International informs.
Prince was supposed to perform at Elton John’s party, but
eventually he did not show up.
"He said from the very beginning that he might perform,
but it was never confirmed," said one organizer, according to E!Online.
During the party, Elton John had the idea of encouraging his
celebrity friends to bid on a 1974 restored Corvette convertible that belonged
to Sharon Stone. Stone declared she was thrilled to have been of help in
raising such a large amount of money for AIDS research.
Lots of celebrities attended the party, including Heidi
Klum, Harrison Ford, the lesbian couple Ellen
DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi, Kate Beckinsale Johnny Lee Miller, Minnie Driver
and Tom Wilkinson, music legends Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder and Quincy Jones.
Asked about the serious attire he
wore at the Oscars, consisting of a black suit and silver tie, the 60-year-old
singer admitted he was not a fashion victim anymore.
“Well, I mean I couldn’t wear some of my giant chicken outfits to the Oscar
party, A, because I wouldn’t fit in them anymore, and B, because, you know, I’m
61 years of age next month and I don’t dress as flamboyant as I used to,” Elton
John stated when he appeared on US TV with Larry King.
“As you get older, you change the way you think, the way you dress. I always
liked to dress a little differently from other people but I’m nowhere near the
fashion victim that I was a long time ago,” he added.
Elton John declared that he initiated humanitarian actions to compensate for
the wild years of his youth.
