For 17 years now, singer Elton John has empathized with those who could not —and would not — attend the Academy Awards by giving them a first-class view to the ceremony outside the Kodak Theater. When the show is over though, those inside often gravitate towards John’s get-together.
Over 600 celebrities had to cough up $3,500 to gain admittance to the 2009 gala, held within an enormous tent at West Hollywood’s Pacific Design Center. The main purpose of the event is not to enrich the fabulously wealthy host, but to help his pet charity: the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Long-time AIDS advocate Sharon Stone was on hand to fundraise with the singer, who came with civil partner David Furnish. John, a British knight, was as much in good company with his countrymen as he was with the Americans that night.
Indian-British actor Ben Kingsley, the night’s other knight, openly raved about Slumdog Millionaire’s win. Fair Briton Kate Beckinsale was also there, together with power English couple David and Victoria Beckham. Other Brits that evening included Peter Andre and his wife Katie Price, pop star Natasha Bedingfield, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, and Scotsman Gerard Butler. On one spot, Simon Cowell rounded up his American Idol (AI) cohorts across the pond, namely Randy Jackson, Ryan Seacrest, and AI winner Carrie Underwood.
John’s gala also drew Chace Crawford, Kiefer Sutherland, Eva Longoria-Parker, Taye Diggs, Chris Noth, Quincy Jones, Josh Groban, Elle Macpherson, and Mary J. Blige.
Early attendees dined on a five-course meal while the Oscars beamed live on a huge screen. Chef Wayne Elias prepared the first-class fare, which included salad with smoked scamorza, tarragon vinaigrette and pomegranate reduction.
After the meal, there was an auction that promised to give bidders an hour of tennis with Andy Roddick; a trip for ten to an old castle in Normandy; Sharon Stone’s Corvette; and even the box on which Hugh Jackman stood for the Oscars overture. In the end, Vanity Fair’s after-party cast a shadow over the gala, with John dangling a ticket to the VIP event. The winning bidder paid $60,000 for it.
By night’s end, John had raised around $4 million. Thankful, he serenaded guests in a duet with R&B phenom Raphael Saadiq.
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