Elton John’s heartbreak over being denied the adoption of an 18-month-old Ukrainian boy is still haunting him nearly 15 years later. In his tell-all 2024 memoir, Farewell Yellow Brick Road, John once more recalled the shattering truth of him and his partner, David Furnish, being instantly denied the chance to adopt the young orphan solely due to their sexuality.
John and Furnish, who have been a couple since 1993, attempted to adopt the boy – named Lev – from an orphanage in Makiivka, a city in the disputed Donetsk Oblast region of eastern Ukraine. The Tiny Dancer hitmaker said meeting Lev in 2009 was the first time he realized he wanted to be a father – but knew he might face some roadblocks being in a gay relationship.
“I first realized I might want to be a father on a visit to Ukraine in 2009 when I met a young orphan boy and carried him around for hours,” John wrote. “Someone said, ‘You seem very fond of this little boy. Would you think of adopting him?’ I didn’t hesitate. ‘I’d actually love to,’ I replied.”
Unfortunately, John and Furnish were not allowed to adopt because of their sexual orientation. The discrimination hurt, but the experience encouraged John to realize that he wanted to be a father. Despite this setback, the couple welcomed their two sons, Zachary and Elijah, by surrogate in 2010 and 2013.
John has shared his emotional journey of meeting Lev at the Ukrainian orphanage on various platforms. During an interview podcast with Dua Lipa in 2022, he recounted the moment when he realized he wanted to be a father after meeting Lev. Despite the challenges they faced, the couple ultimately found happiness in parenthood with their two sons.
After their initial meeting, Lev was forced to leave Makiivka due to the ongoing conflict in the Donbas region. Although they were unable to adopt him, John reportedly helped Lev, his brother Arten, and their grandmother escape to the safety of Lviv. John, known for his activism in fighting HIV/AIDS globally, frequently visits Ukraine to support the cause.
Years later, John and Lev reunited at the Burabazar festival in Kiev, organized by the Elena Pinchuk Foundation for an anti-AIDS charity event called A Day with Elton John. The emotional reunion saw the pair warmly greeting each other and posing together in front of nostalgic photos from their first meeting when Lev was just a baby.
Despite the initial heartbreak and challenges they faced, John and Furnish have found joy and fulfillment in their roles as parents to Zachary and Elijah. The journey to parenthood may have been rocky, but the love and bond they share with their children are undeniable.
