Elton John is speaking out against comments made by Georgia state Rep. Betty Price. The Republican elected official raised eyebrows after being captured on video suggesting that HIV patients should be quarantined.
“As a doctor and elected official from a state where people are still contracting HIV at an alarming rate, Mrs. Price should know better than to demonize people and perpetuate myths that stigmatize people living with HIV,” said John in a statement, provided by the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
“Her words smack of a dark time when there was little or no information about HIV and people were afraid of each other,” it continued. “Today, thanks to scientific advancements, growing acceptance and love, people living with HIV are living longer, healthier lives. We also know people living with HIV pose no public threat.”
Price, an anesthesiologist and wife of recently fired Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, made the remarks during a public hearing last week at the Georgia House of Representatives when asking about ways to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS, CNN and other reported.
“What are we legally able to do? I don’t want to say the ‘quarantine’ word, but I guess I just said it,” said Price while questioning Dr. Pascale Wortley, director of the HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Surveillance Section at the Georgia Department of Public Health. “We’ve got a huge population posing a risk if they’re not in treatment.”
Price swiftly walked the comments back after public outcry.
“I made a provocative and rhetorical comment as part of a free-flowing conversation which has been taken completely out of context,” she told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I do not support a quarantine in this public health challenge and dilemma of undertreated HIV patients”
10 Stars Who Just Need an Emmy to EGOT, From Elton John to Stephen Sondheim (Photos)
The EGOT -- an acronym for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony -- is among the greatest and most elusive honors in entertainment. These stars are (or were) close to achieving it based on competitive awards.
Elton John, composer and musician (1947-)
Grammy: Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group, "That's What Friends Are For" (1986); Best Instrumental Composition, "Basque" (1991); Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (1994); Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, "Candle in the Wind" (1997); Best Show Album, "Aida" (2000)
Oscar: Best Original Son, "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" from "The Lion King" (1994)
Tony: Best Score, "Aida" (2000)
Joel Grey, actor (1932 - ) Grammy (2): Best Musical Theater Album, "Cabaret" (1968) and "Chicago" (1998) Oscar: Supporting Actor, "Cabaret" (1972) Tony: Featured Actor in a Musical, "Cabaret" (1967)
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Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, composers (both 1985 - )
Grammy: Best Musical Theater Album, "Dear Evan Hansen" (2018)
Oscar: Best Original Song, "La La Land" (2017)
Tony: Best Original Score, "Dear Evan Hansen" (2017)
Stephen Sondheim, composer and lyricist (1930-2021) Grammy: Best Show Album, "Company" (1970); Best Show Album, "A Little Night Music" (1973); Song of the Year, "Send in the Clowns" (1975); Best Show Album, "Sweeney Todd" (1979); Best Show Album, "Sunday in the Park With George" (1984); Best Cast Show Album, "Into the Woods" (1988); Best Show Album, "Passion" (1994); Oscar: Best Original Song, "Sooner Or Later (I Always Get My Man)" from "Dick Tracy" (1990) Tony: Best Musical, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," (1963); Best Score and Best Lyrics, "Company" (1971); Best Score, "Follies" (1972); Best Score, "A Little Night Music" (1973); Best Score, "Sweeney Todd" (1979); Best Score, "Into the Woods" (1988); Best Score, "Passion" (1994)
Henry Fonda, actor (1905-82)
Grammy: Best Spoken Word Album, "Great Documents" (1977)
Oscar: Best Actor, "On Golden Pond" (1981)
Tony: Best Actor, "Mister Roberts" (1948); Best Actor, "Clarence Darrow" (1975)
Oscar Hammerstein II, lyricist and producer (1895-1960)
Grammy: Best Original Cast Album, "The Sound of Music" (1960)
Oscar: Best Original Song, "The Last Time I Saw Paris" from "Lady Be Good" (1941); "It Might As Well Be Spring" from "State Fair" (1945)
Tony: Three awards for "South Pacific" (1950); Best Musical, "The King and I" (1952); Best Musical, "The Sound of Music" (1960)
Alan Jay Lerner, lyricist and writer (1918-86)
Grammy: Best Original Cast Album, "On a Clear Day" (1965)
Oscar: Best Original Screenplay, "An American in Paris" (1951); Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Song, "Gigi" (1958)
Tony: Best Musical, "My Fair Lady" (1957); Best Original Score, "Gigi" (1974)
Frank Loesser, composer (1910-69)
Grammy: Best Cast Album, "How to Succeed..." (1961)
Oscar: Best Song, "Baby, It's Cold Outside" from "Neptune's Daughter" (1949)
Tony: Best Musical, "Guys and Dolls" (1951); Best Musical, "How to Succeed..." (1962)
Jule Styne, composer and songwriter (1905-94)
Grammy: Best Cast Album, "Funny Girl" (1964)
Oscar: Best Song, "Three Coins in the Fountain" (1954)
Tony: Best Musical and Best Score, "Hallelujah Baby" (1968)
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A select group of entertainers can round out their trophy cases with a competitive win from the Television Academy
The EGOT -- an acronym for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony -- is among the greatest and most elusive honors in entertainment. These stars are (or were) close to achieving it based on competitive awards.
