Elton John testifies he was ‘furious’ over alleged hacking of the Daily Mail

Singer Elton John told London’s High Court on Friday that he was outraged to hear of allegations that his landline calls were bugged on behalf of the Daily Mail, saying the paper’s actions were “beyond the basic standards of human behavior.”

This seasoned singer, who is known for songs like this Rocket Man again Your Songshe sued Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail, for alleged widespread breach of privacy along with her husband David Furnish, Prince Harry and four others.

Relatives deny allegations of phone hacking and other illegal activities, saying newspaper stories are based on information that is already public or obtained from official sources, such as “leaked” public gatherings of celebrities.

It called the claims “preposterous smears.”

John, who appeared in the video wearing a green shirt and green jacket, said he had only heard about the Mail’s allegations when he was told by his best friend, actress Elizabeth Hurley, who is one of the complainants.

Hurley had been told by a private investigator that John’s house calls were faulty when he lived with her shortly after the birth of her son.

The evidence from the private investigator is one of the main points of contention in this case as he initially issued a statement in support of the plaintiffs, but now he has retracted it and cast doubt on its authenticity.

“When we saw the gravity of what had happened … we were outraged,” said John, who has sold more than 300 million records in six decades.

John, who said he does not have a cell phone, said that while Hurley was living with him, three of his landlines were “hacked.”

“I got angry,” said the singer who apologized for appearing via video link because “my eye problems” meant that he could not go in person.

“I’ve never been afraid to fight my corner … with the British media when I think I’ve been treated badly or there’s been an injustice.”

Associated Press attorney Catrin Evans asked John about some of the 10 articles published between 2002 and 2015, suggesting that the information may have come from his spokesperson or other official sources, such as a circle of friends.

“My friends don’t talk to the media, that’s why they’re still my friends, to put it bluntly,” said John, who later said Evans was “in trouble” and asked why he didn’t focus on the “horrific things” the Associated Press had done.

‘Without … the basic values ​​of human behavior’

One of the articles Furnish complained about was related to a 2010 article about a couple who had a child by birth, saying the Mail obtained a copy of their son’s birth certificate before they did.

“It was really sad for me and David to see our case exposed, Zachary being a target when he was a newborn, David and I were victims, and I was a victim when I was sick and unwell,” John wrote in his witness statement.

“I found the Mail to be deliberately intruding on my medical life and medical details about the birth of our son Zachary in a manner that is repugnant and outside the basic standards of human decency.”

John is the last of the seven plaintiffs to testify, and the nine-week trial will conclude next month.