ELTON JOHN apologised to a concert steward after a foul-mouthed rant over fans waving their arms.
Stewards at Kingsholm Stadium in Gloucester told concert-goers not to put their hands in the air at the event last night.
The singer - whose songs include Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word - then launched a tirade of abuse at staff, shouting: ‘This is not f****** China.’
But after one female steward walked off crying, he called her back on stage and sung Yellow Brick Road while she sat next to him on his piano stool.
Elton, 68, reacted angrily after seeing stewards tell fans to stay in their seats during the concert.
According to ITV News, he fumed: ‘You f****** stewards, who do you think you are? This is my f****** concert, who are you?‘Especially you with the f****** blonde ponytail, you’re a f****** c***... Yes you, this isn’t f****** China, now piss off.
‘My fans have paid good money and if they want to wave their f****** arms they f****** can. Do you hear me? Now piss off!’
The steward - named only as Maria by witnesses - was then seen walking away and crying.
When some fans were unimpressed by his language, he apologised, saying: ‘I do apologise, whoever told the stewards to do that, it’s their f****** fault and not hers and I apologise profusely.
‘If people want to wave their arms in the air, let them... I apologise for my outburst.’
The steward was then brought up on stage and sat next to the singer at his piano.
He told her: ‘It was highly inappropriate. I got frustrated. I know no one should ever talk to a lady like that and I’m very sorry.’
He then gave her a kiss on the cheek before singing his next number.
The episode has drawn a mixed response from fans.
Some back Elton’s outburst, with Rooby Lane tweeting: ‘#EltonJohn stuck up for the crowds who basically weren’t allowed to move in their seats! Night was much more fun after that!’
But others felt he was rude, with Lynda Carroll writing: ‘He may be famous but don’t think he’s ever been nice person #EltonJohn’.
