Elton John and his husband David Furnish appeared on Monday as defense witnesses in Britain’s trial of actor Kevin Spacey, who faces multiple sexual assault allegations.
Testifying via video transmission from Monaco, Mr John was asked about his memories of Mr Spacey’s attendance at his White Tie and Tiara Ball, an event Mr John and Mr Furnish have hosted at their UK home every year for more than a decade. to draw attention to money to fight AIDS.
The incident was mentioned several times in the court case, which began last month. A complainant told UK police that Mr Spacey touched him on a number of occasions without his consent, including once in 2004 or 2005 when the actor grabbed his genitals so hard he nearly swerved off the road when she closed them “White Tie and Tiara” drove ball.
The complainant said he then threatened to hit Mr Spacey unconscious, who laughed and said the complainant’s anger turned him on.
UK law prohibits anyone from identifying complainants in sexual assault cases or from publishing information that could lead to their identification.
On Monday morning, Mr John, 76, was asked if Mr Spacey had ever attended his ball. The singer said Mr Spacey attended once in 2001, later adding that he did not recall Mr Spacey visiting his home after that event.
“He came on a private jet and came straight to the ball,” Mr John said during his 13-minute appearance. When asked to confirm that Mr Spacey had arrived on a private jet, Mr John said he assumed that was the case because he believed nobody wore a white tie on a commercial flight.
Mr Furnish, 60, testified separately via video link and said he also did not recall Mr Spacey attending the ball after 2001. Mr Furnish said he had old copies of OK! looked through, a celebrity magazine that sponsored the ball, and Mr. Spacey did not appear in any photos after the event in 2001.
Mr Spacey, 63, has pleaded not guilty to 12 charges relating to incidents which prosecutors say involved four men and which occurred from 2001 to 2013. For most of that time the actor was Artistic Director of the Old Vic Theatre, a major London playhouse. Mr John told the court that in 2002 he was chairman of the board of trustees that ran the theatre.