Elton John Aids Foundation raises 8.6 Million Dollars

On this episode we highlight some of the interviews on the red carpet at the 33rd Annual Elton John AIDS  33rd Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards® Viewing Party on Sunday, March 2 at West Hollywood Park. The event featured an electrifying performance from Grammy®-Award winning Chappell Roan, and raised over $8.6 million in support of the Foundation’s mission to end AIDS. Elton John co-hosted the event alongside Elton John AIDS Foundation Chair David Furnish, Golden Globe® and EMMY® Award-winning actress Jean Smart, EMMY® Award-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, EMMY® Award and Tony® Award-winning actor Neil Patrick Harris, and Award-winning actor, author, and chef David Burtka. Presenting Sponsors of the event included A+E Networks, Chopard, e.l.f. Beauty, Gilead Sciences, Robert and Dana Kraft, and Bob and Tamar Manoukian. Many thanks to our supporting co-sponsors, Judy and Leonard Lauder, our official airline partner, American Airlines, our spirits partner, Tequila Don Julio, our wine partner, DAOU Vineyards, our Champagne and Caviar Reception partners, Moët Hennessy Private and Petrossian Caviar, and the City of West Hollywood. “I can’t believe this is the 33rd year of hosting our annual Academy Awards Viewing Party. Nothing means more to me than being surrounded by friends, family, and supporters, for a cause so close to my heart.  I’m deeply grateful to everyone who continues to stand with us to end new cases of HIV and save lives around the world. Now, more than ever, we need allies by our side to come together and finish this fight to end AIDS,” said Elton John, Founder of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. “What an unforgettable night! Chappell Roan lit up the stage, our amazing co-hosts Jean Smart, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Neil Patrick Harris, and David Burtka kept the energy sky-high! We want to thank everyone who bought a ticket, bid in the auction, or made a donation—you made this night a true success. Because of your generosity, we were able to celebrate with purpose, helping communities around the world access life-saving HIV prevention, treatment, and mental health support,”  said David Furnish, Chair of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.    The Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards® Viewing Party welcomed over 1,000 attendees including top Hollywood actors, musicians, fashion designers, philanthropists, athletes and more. Attendees included Abby Elliott, Alton Mason, Alyssa Milano, Andrew Watt, Anwar Hadid, Antonia Gentry, Ashlyn Harris, Atiana De La Hoya, Bobby Berk, Brandi Carlile, Brianne Howey, Caitlin Reilly, Camila Cabello, Camilla Luddington, Charlotte Lawrence, Chris Colfer, Chris Olsen, Chrishell Stause, Christian Siriano, Christina Hendricks, Dan Bucatinsky, Daniel Scheinert, Derek Hough, Diplo, Donatella Versace, Dylan Mulvaney, Elizabeth Hurley, Emily Browning, Faouzia, Fortune Feimster, Harry Jowsey, Harry Shum Jr., Heather McMahan, Heidi Klum, Hozier, Jason George, Jackie Tohn, Jacob Lusk, Jake Wesley Rogers, Jane Seymour, JB Smoove, Jessica Gunning, Joe Locke, Jonathan Scott, Julia Fox, Katie Gavin, Kathy Hilton, Kevin Dias, Lana Condor, Lance Bass, Laufey, Lisa Ann Walter, Lucy Dacus, Luke Hemmings, MUNA, Madeline Brewer, Madison Bailey, Malin Akerman, Maria Bakalova, Matt Friend, Mayan Lopez, Megan Thee Stallion, Michael Urie, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Nic Kaufmann, Nicky Hilton, Nikki Glaser, NLE Choppa, Olivia Jade, Ozuna, Paris Jackson, Samantha Hanratty, Sonia Mena, Sophia Bush, Spencer House, Stephanie Hsu, The Linda Lindas, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Victoria Justice, Walton Goggins, William Stanford Davis, Whitney Cummings, Xochitl Gomez, Zooey Deschanel, and more. The evening kicked off with a reimagined Champagne and Caviar cocktail reception, featuring a delectable culinary experience curated by Chef Wayne Elias, fine wines from DAOU Vineyards, and expertly crafted cocktails by Tequila Don Julio. As the gala unfolded, auctioneer Lydia Fenet energized the room, encouraging guests to bid generously in support of the Foundation’s mission to end the AIDS epidemic. Additional auction highlights included: A chance to have dinner with Elton and David in Los Angeles or Windsor. An iconic Rolex Cosmograph Daytona engraved with Elton John’s signature. An Herb Ritts art piece - Female Torso with Veil, Paradise Cove 1984, edition 7/7. A champagne and whiskey royal experience with the finest LMVH champagne for up to 6 guests, inclusive of one night in Paris, complete with a private dinner at the invitation-only Moet Hennessy Private Apartment. Chopard Jewellery valued at $250K.   Chappell Roan brought the crowd to their feet performing her hit song “HOT TO GO!” and a special rendition of Elton John’s iconic “Your Song.” The Midwest Princess was joined on stage by Elton for a spellbinding duet of “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” before paying an emotional tribute to her friend and mentor, stating: “You have sacrificed so much for the queer community and made it so I can be the artist I can be.” To close the set, Chappell crowned Elton with a pink cowboy hat before rocking the stage with a dazzling duet of  “Pink Pony Club.”   Uniting stars and advocates on Hollywood’s biggest night of the year since 1992, the annual Academy Awards® Viewing Party has supported the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s efforts to raise over $123 million for their life saving work towards their mission of ending AIDS and the stigma associated with it for everyone, everywhere. Follow the Elton John AIDS Foundation: Facebook: @EltonJohnAIDSFoundation X: @ejaf Instagram: @ejaf TikTok: @eltonjohnaidsfoundation Bluesky: @eltonjohnaidsfoundation.org    About the Elton John AIDS Foundation: The Elton John AIDS Foundation was established in 1992 and is one of the leading independent AIDS organizations in the world. The Foundation’s mission is simple: an end to the AIDS epidemic. The Elton John AIDS Foundation is committed to overcome the stigma, discrimination and neglect that keeps us from ending AIDS. With the mobilisation of our network of generous supporters and partners, we fund local experts across four continents to challenge discrimination, prevent infections and provide treatment as well as influencing governments to end AIDS. www.eltonjohnaidsfoundation.org