Reporter In Scuffle (Press, 17 February 1984)
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Summary: Reporter In Scuffle (Press, 17 February 1984)
On 17 February 1984, a confrontation occurred between British reporter Mick Ferrari and Elton John’s manager, John Reid, following a controversial report published in the London "Sun" newspaper about Elton John's wedding. The article featured an eyebrow-raising headline, "Good on yer, poofter!" which sparked backlash and tension. Ferrari was covering the wedding for the newspaper and had entered the hotel where Reid was seated with John’s band when the argument broke out. Reid reportedly shouted at Ferrari repeatedly, questioning him about the publication of the article and its implications. This verbal altercation escalated into a physical scuffle between the two men. Although Ferrari confirmed the incident had taken place, he stated that he was instructed by his newspaper not to comment further on the matter. Reid, who has a history of legal trouble—having served a month in prison in New Zealand for assaulting a reporter in 1974—was unavailable for comments the following morning after the incident. The "Sun" article about the wedding detailed how Elton John and his bride were greeted by a man in the crowd with an enthusiastic and mocking remark. Ferrari, who claimed he was the sole journalist invited to the wedding reception at the Sebel Town House, reported that Elton John entertained his guests with laughter while reflecting on the various comments regarding his bisexuality. John appeared to take the reports in stride, commenting that it demonstrated how perceptions of his past relationships might have been misinterpreted. He quipped, “It goes to show what everyone’s been saying – what I’ve done in the past was just a passing phase.”
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