Conductor John Eliot Gardiner pulls out of Proms ‘after punching singer’ at classical show in France
A world-renowned British conductor who featured in the King’s coronation has “apologised unreservedly” for losing his “temper” after being accused of assaulting a singer.
Sir John Eliot Gardiner, 80, allegedly punched bass singer William Thomas following a performance at the Festival Berlioz in France, after the performer left the podium in the wrong direction.
The incident is said to have happened backstage, out of sight of the audience, but in front of some of the cast.
Pic: Sebastian Willnow/AP
In a statement, Sir John said he “deeply regretted” the incident and understood “how much this has affected all the participants involved in this major project, which has been so dear to my heart”.
He said: “I make no excuses for my behaviour and have apologised personally to Will Thomas, for whom I have the greatest respect. I do so again, and to the other artists, for the distress that this has caused.”
The conductor said he had returned to the UK and withdrawn from future performances of the show, Les Troyens.
“I know that physical violence is never acceptable and that musicians should always feel safe,” he said. “I ask for your patience and understanding as I take time to reflect on my actions.”
Sir John will no longer take part in the BBC Proms in September, with his assistant, Dinis Sousa, taking his place.
A BBC spokesperson said: “Sir John Eliot Gardiner has decided to withdraw from the performance of The Trojans at this year’s BBC Proms. We are grateful that Dinis Sousa will step in to conduct the performance on 3 September.”
The broadcaster is investigating the matter, saying it takes allegations of inappropriate behaviour seriously and is “currently establishing the facts about the incident”.
Classical music news site Slipped Disc first reported the alleged assault, saying it had received multiple reports.
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Representatives for Mr Thomas confirmed an incident took place on Tuesday but said he was looking forward to future performances.
“All musicians deserve the right to practise their art in an environment free from abuse or physical harm,” the representatives are quoted as saying,” they said.
Sir John, who is founder and artistic director of the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra, has won two Grammy awards throughout his career and received more Gramophone Awards than any other living artist, according to the choir’s website.
He has conducted many of the world’s leading orchestras, including the Vienna Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra, and operas at the Royal Opera House in London and at Teatro alla Scala, in Milan.
In May, during a pre-service programme, he led the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists at Westminster Abbey for the King’s coronation.
A spokesperson for the Monteverdi Choir said: “We continue to look into the events that occurred on Tuesday evening. Our values of respect and inclusivity are fundamental to us as a company and we take seriously the welfare of all our performers and employees.”
Sky News has contacted the festival for comment.
A pilot has died after a private jet owned by Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil crashed into another plane at an airport in Arizona.
Neil was not on board at the time of the collision, which happened off the runway at Scottsdale Airport on Monday afternoon.
Neil’s girlfriend Rain Andreani and her friend suffered injuries which are not thought to be life-threatening.
They were taken to hospital with the jet’s co-pilot, who was also injured.
Emergency responders work on Vince Neil’s plane after the collision. Pic: AP
“While details are still emerging, our hearts go out to the families of both the pilot who lost his life and the passengers who suffered injuries,” Motley Crue said in a statement.
“Motley Crue will announce a way to help support the family of the deceased pilot – stand by for an announcement very soon”.
Rain Andreani broke five ribs in the crash and the dogs the women were travelling with survived, TMZ reports.
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Pic: AP
Neil’s jet was arriving from Austin, Texas, when one of its two sets of landing gears failed.
The Learjet veered off the runway after landing and crashed into a Gulfstream 200 business jet.
Neil’s lawyer said the singer is “grateful for the critical aid of all first responders assisting today”.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the incident was under investigation.
Motley Crue enjoyed major success throughout the 1980s, selling more than 100 million records.
Vince Neil fronted the rock band from their formation in 1981 until he left in 1992.
He later reunited with the band in 1996 and fronted them until they retired in 2015, and again from the band’s 2018 reunion onwards.
Kanye West has been criticised over a TV advert directing people to a website selling a swastika T-shirt during the Super Bowl.
It shows him lying down, telling viewers: “I spent all the money for the commercial on these new teeth, so once again I had to shoot it on the iPhone… go to Yeezy.com.”
The site now features nothing but a single T-shirt with a swastika on the front – alongside the code “HH-01” – believed to be a reference to “Heil Hitler”.
The advert was shown in the Los Angeles area during the big game, but not nationwide.
The listing is the sole item on West’s website
It comes after West deactivated his X account after more antisemitic posts last week.
The rapper’s final entry stated: “I’m logging out of Twitter. I appreciate [X owner] Elon [Musk] for allowing me to vent.
“It has been very cathartic to use the world as a sounding board. It was like an Ayahuasca trip.”
“Love all of you who gave me your energy and attention. To we connect again [sic]. Good afternoon and goodnight.”
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West made multiple posts on Friday, including statements such as “I love Hitler” and “I’m a Nazi” – with the Campaign Against Antisemitism calling on Mr Musk to ban him.
The group said the T-shirt listing was another damning example of West’s dangerous prejudice.
“The swastika is the symbol adopted by Hitler as the primary emblem of the Nazis,” it posted.
“It galvanized his followers in the 20th century and continues to threaten and instil fear in those targeted by antisemitism and white supremacy.”
West – also known as Ye – has been suspended from Twitter at least twice before.
In October 2022, his account was restricted over antisemitic comments but he returned the following month. The outcry prompted Adidas to end their lucrative trainer deal.
Two months later, he was locked out again after posts including one appearing to show a swastika inside a Star of David.
Elon Musk, who rebranded Twitter as X in 2023, said at the time the suspension was “for incitement to violence” but the account was back up and running the following summer.
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West’s wife, Bianca Censori, also made headlines last week when she wore a fully transparent dress at the Grammy Awards.
The couple posed for several minutes on the red carpet before reportedly being escorted away.
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