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Sir Elton John says it's time for internet trolls to be held accountable

Watch: Sir Elton John insists internet trolls need to be held accountable for the hatred they are spreading

Sir Elton John has hit out at internet trolls who dish out vile abuse then hide behind their online personas.

The I’m Still Standing singer, 74, said it was time that people were held accountable for nasty comments made online.

According to a report in the Daily Mail, Sir Elton opened up about the issue while he was being interviewed on Zane Lowe's Apple Music 1 show.

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The star was quoted as saying: “We've lived through two or three years of divisiveness throughout the whole world, and especially in America, but around the world, and during lockdown, we've seen social media being used to abuse people racially.

"Not just being gay, but racially as well.”

Elton John appears makes an appearance to announce that he will be retiring from touring after his next tour at an event at Gotham Hall in New York.
Elton John (PA)

The Rocket Man star said people can be “so cruel” to each other and that because it’s all online they can hide.

“If they had to write their names on it, they wouldn't do it,” he insisted.

“And I just think it's just awful that people can write anonymous things about people being gay, being of another political persuasion, religious persuasion, or just plain racial.

"I just think that we have to ask ourselves at this time that it's not good enough for people to be able to post anonymous things online.”

Sir Elton John and David Furnish pose for photographers upon arrival at the 'Lion King' European premiere in central London, Sunday, July 14, 2019. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)
Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Sir Elton said it was time that people “have to be accountable for what they say”.

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“It's making the world really divided and it's really cruel,” said the father-of-two.

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