Elton John Unable to Watch ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ Musical Due to Vision Loss, BBC Reports

The West End premiere of The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical has been met with widespread acclaim, but its celebrated lyricist, Sir Elton John, revealed that he has been unable to watch the production due to his eyesight loss. Speaking at the gala performance, held in support of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Sir Elton said:

I have lost my sight and I haven’t been able to see the performance, but I have enjoyed listening to it.

The gala performance on Sunday night attracted an array of famous faces, including Anna Wintour, Lily Collins, and Donatella Versace. Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Wintour, shared her thoughts on the musical, calling it “entertaining” but diplomatically adding that it was up to audiences to decide whether the fashion industry is truly reflected in the production. She also addressed long-standing rumors that Miranda Priestly, the icy editor-in-chief from the story, was loosely based on her, saying, “It’s for the audience and the people I work with to decide if there are any similarities between me and Miranda Priestly.”

Among the attendees was designer Betsey Johnson, who reflected on her own career, saying she felt “lucky” to have avoided the cutthroat dynamics depicted in the film and now the musical. “When I saw the film for the first time, I thought, thank God I missed all that stuff,” the 82-year-old remarked.

The musical features an all-star cast led by Vanessa Williams, who steps into the iconic role of Miranda Priestly. Television personality Michelle Visage praised Williams, stating she has “absolutely always been the perfect person to play Priestly.”

Visage also took the opportunity to reflect on the progress in the fashion industry. Referencing the film, she said, “I can’t believe that Andy was called fat when she was a size six. I would hope things have changed—we’ve seen some more inclusion, and I hope we always hope to progress.”

Model Elizabeth Hurley expressed optimism about the industry’s shift, stating, “Every woman’s body is now celebrated,” while singer Beverley Knight struck a more cautious note, saying, “I don’t think the fashion industry has moved on leaps and bounds” in terms of inclusivity.

Actor Luke Evans, also in attendance, praised the enduring appeal of The Devil Wears Prada, describing it as “full of characters and ego” but admitted he was unsure why it had become a cultural phenomenon. He added that, despite long-standing comparisons, he sees few similarities between Wintour and Priestly, saying, “Anna is very lovely, so I don’t think they’re similar.”

Comedian David Walliams, attending with his mother, joked about skipping Strictly Come Dancing to support Elton John. “That’s how much we love Elton,” they quipped.

As The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical opens to West End audiences, it’s clear the production is already making waves. With a score by Sir Elton John, dazzling performances, and a reimagined take on a beloved story, the musical is poised to become one of the hottest tickets in London.

This stylish adaptation continues to explore themes of ambition, identity, and self-worth within the glitzy, high-stakes world of fashion—proving, once again, that sometimes, a great story never goes out of style.

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