Sir Elton John caused a stir among his loyal fans by posting a picture of himself appearing to be in a hospital bed, covered in a shiny cast. However, it was all part of a promotion for his role in the upcoming movie Spinal Tap II.
The 78-year-old music icon shared several photos on Instagram showing him in a hospital gown, adorned with rhinestone leg casts and a neck brace, surrounded by flowers and other cast members.
Many supporters believed John was hospitalized based on the images, sending messages wishing him a speedy recovery. However, in his caption, John revealed that it was all a staged scenario for promotional purposes.
He explained, “Rocked too hard… ended up in a cast! Backstage with Spinal Tap.” John also mentioned his participation in the new film and album, thanking the team for involving him.
Additional footage from the post displayed the behind-the-scenes process, including the removal of the casts, confirming that the hospital setting was part of the production.
Although the initial photo tricked numerous viewers, some fans quickly caught on to the prank. The follow-up film, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, features original songs, including tracks with Elton John.
Both the movie and album were released on Friday. Despite recently finishing his farewell tour, John had not previously disclosed his involvement in the project. The post had amassed over 210,000 likes by Friday evening.