Elton John Tells Janet Jackson to ''F--k Off'' and Claims She Lip-Syncs: ''I'd Rather Go and See a Drag Queen''

"That's not a show!" the singer-songwriter tells Rolling Stone

By Zach Johnson Feb 25, 2016 4:44 PMTags
Janet Jackson, Elton JohnTim Mosenfelder/Getty Images, Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images

The bitch is back, all right.

Elton John is one of the most outspoken musicians alive, and in a new Rolling Stone interview, he takes aim at one of the most popular female solo artists of all time. Because he prides himself on giving his all onstage, John is sensitive to others he feels do not hold themselves to the same standards. "You know, f--king music magazines writing a review of Janet Jackson saying, 'This is the greatest show—four and a half stars.' It's f--king lip-synced! Hello! That's not a show!" John, 68, says. "I'd rather go and see a drag queen. F--k off."

Jackson, who is currently on a world tour in support of her eleventh studio album, Unbreakable, has not yet responded to John's allegations; E! News has reached out to the 49-year-old "No Sleeep" singer's rep for comment.

More than a decade ago, John made similar lip-syncing claims about Madonna. "I say what I feel," he tells Rolling Stone in hindsight. "I probably went too far with Madonna, and I got very personal and I wrote her—she was very gracious."

Who could forget their 11-year feud? John first dissed the Material Girl in 2002 when he said that "Die Another Day" was the "worst" James Bond song he'd ever heard. Two years later, he called her out onstage at the Q Awards. "Madonna, best live act? F--k off," he told the audience. "Since when has lip-syncing been live? Sorry about that, but I think everyone who lip-syncs on stage in public when you pay like 75 quid to see them should be shot. Thank you very much. That's me off her Christmas card list, but do I give a toss? No."