Elton John Warns Complacent Teens About Unsafe Sex

At a gala for his AIDS charity on November 16, Elton John said that young people are putting themselves in danger of getting HIV by engaging in unsafe sex. He warned that the latest generation is “complacent” about the risk of getting the virus.

He said that even though AIDS is not a new disease, higher rates of HIV infection are being seen in African American women, the rural south and in the gay community.

Speaking to Radio 1’s Newsbeat, the singer said, “We are finding that too many young people are not listening to what we are saying. I’m afraid people do get a little complacent about the disease by going out and having unsafe sex. It’s a cyclical thing. Every ten years a new generation comes along and you have to re-educate them.”

Also present at the event held for the Elton John AIDS Foundation were Sharon Stone, former United States president Bill Clinton and Daniel Craig.