Elton John has branded photographers in Taiwan "rude, vile pigs" after a run in at Taipei's Chiang Kai-shek International Airport. Having arriving by private plane shortly after midnight on Thursday, he was ambushed at the airport by paparazzi and TV crews. Clenching his teeth and muttering expletives he stood with his arms crossed tightly across his chest, shouting: "Rude vile pigs. Do you know what that means? Rude vile pigs. That's what all of you are."
One of the photographers shouted back: "Why don't you get out of Taiwan?" The singer replied: "We'd love to get out of Taiwan if it's full of people like you. Pig! Pig!" He added: "We had a great tour of the Far East and then we come to Taiwan".
A spokeswoman for Elton blamed the whole incident on local police, stressing how great Mr John was to have survived the experience in one piece, adding that the singer was "very brave" to go ahead with his gig at the Chung Shan soccer stadium (presumably using a different definition of the word brave to the rest of us).
She told reporters: "Elton John's arrival at Taipei Airport was greeted by what can only be described as chaos and confusion. No sooner had he disembarked from the aircraft, he was led into the public immigration area of the airport which was immediately besieged by hordes of photographers and live TV crews intent upon disrupting his progress. The local police and security at the airport failed to protect Elton John from the ensuing chaos. Despite this frightening arrival, his spirits remain high and he is looking forward to performing the concert."