On Sunday, March 15, Hollywood’s glitterati gathered in West Hollywood Park for a night of glamour and purpose at the 34th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards® Viewing Party that raised $10,600,000.00
Fueling the global fight to end the AIDS epidemic, the night’s festivities were co-hosted by Elton John and David Furnish along with Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka.
Fresh off her Grammy and BRIT wins, the evening’s musical highlight was a raw, unfiltered performance by double-platinum British artist Lola Young, who performed tracks like ‘Messy’ from her third studio album, I’m Only F**king Myself.
Emphasizing the responsibility of her generation to advocate for LGBTQ+ communities and those still affected by HIV, Young said “Elton, David, and the Foundation are all about celebrating who you really are.” And echoing her the sentiment, Elton praised Young as “bold, brilliant, and completely herself.”
Amidst a legendary night of British talent, the fundraising reached a fever pitch during an auction led by Lydia Fenet, the centerpiece of which was an original artwork titled Tiny Dancer by Jack Coulter, who experiences synesthesia, translating sound into color while Elton John performed a rare, solo piano rendition of the classic song.
Other high-profile auction items included: Dua Lipa’s custom Jean Paul Gaultier corset, a pair of Rolex Cosmograph Daytonas engraved with Elton and David’s signatures, and a private dinner with the hosts themselves.
Despite the glitz and a massive guest list – including Zoe Saldaña, Dua Lipa, RuPaul, Melissa McCarthy, and Donatella Versace – the message remained urgent, with the foundation CEO Anne Aslett reminding all that “someone dies of AIDS-related causes every minute,” and that the funds will be used to combat stigma and declining global funding.
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Author: Al Denté
Photo: Raph_Ph