While discussing his relationship with Billy Joel on “Today” in February 2011, Elton John not only expressed remorse for his comments about the “Movin’ Out” singer, but felt he had enraged his friend. “But I do love him and I want to stress that,” John said (via OK!). “He may want to punch my face in at the moment, but it’s okay,” he added. These comments made their way to Joel, who wasted no time releasing a statement to clarify his feelings about his former tourmate. “1. I do not hate Elton John. 2. I do not want to “punch him in the face,” he said in a statement released through Rolling Stone in February 2011. Joel also left the door open for reconciliation by saying his number had not changed.
When speaking to The New York Times Magazine in May 2013, Joel was asked about John’s comments about his songwriting output. Joel again acted unbothered. “I think his heart is in the right place,” he said about John.
A month later, the two buried the hatchet at an awards show in New York. While accepting an award at the Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony in June 2013, John called out to his friend. “Mr. Joel, I haven’t seen you tonight, but I love you dearly,” he said (via SheKnows). Later in the show Joel took the stage. “Is Elton still here, by the way? We’re okay. Call me,” he said. Their feud, however, did almost reignite years after making amends.
