Elton John boycotts designers who called IVF babies 'synthetic'

David Furnish, Elijah Furnish-John, Zachary Furnish-John, and Sir Elton John. Photo / Getty

Sir Elton John has promised to boycott Dolce & Gabbana after the brand's leading designers said that children born by IVF are "synthetic".

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana spoke out against same-sex families, despite being gay themselves, saying: "We oppose gay adoptions. The only family is the traditional one.

"No chemical offsprings and rented uterus: life has a natural flow, there are things that should not be changed."

Sir Elton, who has had two children by IVF with his husband David Furnish, wrote on Instagram: "How dare you refer to my beautiful children as 'synthetic'.

"And shame on you for wagging you judgemental little fingers at IVF - a miracle that has allowed legions of loving people, both straight and gay, to fulfil their dream of having children.

"Your archaic thinking is out of step with the times, just like your fashions.

"I shall never wear Dolce and Gabbana ever again. #BoycottDolceGabbana."

In an interview with Italy's Panorama magazine, Dolce said that procreation "must be an act of love", adding: "You are born to a mother and father - or at least that's how it should be.

"I call children of chemistry synethic children. Uteri [for rent], semen chosen from a catalogue."

Gabbana added: "The family is not a fad. In it there is a supernatural sense of belonging."

In an interview with an Italian newspaper in 2006, Gabbana said: "I am opposed to the idea of a child growing up with two gay parents.

"A child needs a mother and a father. I could not imagine my childhood without my mother. I also believe that it is cruel to take a baby away from its mother."

Sir Elton has two sons with Furnish, Zachary Furnish-John and Elijah Furnish-John, born to the same surrogate mother.