Instagram War Ensues After Elton John Pushes For Boycott Of Dolce & Gabbana Over IVF Comment

There is an ongoing Instagram war between two gay pairs. It was triggered by the interview by magazine Panorama of Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana in which they commented on gay adoption and children born through In Vitro Fertilisation or IVF procedure.

The remark that children conceived through IVF are synthetic angered British singer Elton John who called for a boycott of Dolce & Gabbana products, reports Mashable. He and husband David Furnish have two children through a surrogate mother via IVF. Elton then posted photos of Dolce & Gabbana perfumes in a trash bin with the caption: “When you just want to smell like a couple of as***les from Italy.”

The Italian couple, who have been in a relationship for 23 years but do not have children, said in the interview, “No chemical offsprings and rented uterus: Life has a natural flow, there are things that should not be changed. You are born to a mother and father – or at least that’s how it should be. I call children of chemistry, synthetic children.”

An angry Elton John posted the following comment on Instagram: “How dare you refer to my beautiful children as ‘synthetic’. And shame on you for wagging your judgmental little fingers at IVF – a miracle that has allowed legions of loving people, both straight and gay, to fulfill their dream of having children. You archaic thinking is out of step with the times, just like your fashions. I shall never wear Dolce and Gabbana ever again.”

The singer then used the hashtag #BoycottDolceGabbana. Elton appears to be winning the Instagram war since his post got more than 20,000 likes and elicited almost 4,000 comments.

Mashable noted that Gabbana’s tried to counter the protest that Elton John initiated on Monday, but appeared to be not doing so well. He even used screencaps of Instagram comments, collages and a Charlie Hebdo slogan, but sensing defeat, he backpedaled in another Instagram post.

Gabbana explained that he was born a Sicilian and grew up in a traditional family where he learnt the values of love and family. But he stated that he is aware of other types of families, whom he said “are as legitimate as the one I’ve known.” He said he did not meant to imply that he does not understand different types of families.

Gabbana emphasised he was airing a personal view and stressed freedom of expression, but he did not intend to judge the choices of other people, without directly referring to the singer.

IVF was introduced in 1978, and since then over 5 million children were conceived through the procedure and born after nine months. Some of them joined Elton John in condemning Dolce & Gabbana.

Upworthy, however, exposed a 2006 interview with Vanity Fair wherein Gabbana admitted wanting to father a child with a surrogate mother through IVF. He even called a female friend to ask if she would agree. But at the same time, Gabbana said he is opposed to a child growing up with two gay parents. He insisted a child needs a father and a mother.

To contact the writer, email: v.hernandez@ibtimes.com.au