'I couldn't cope with success': Elton John reveals he finds scenes featuring his descent into drug addiction and bulimia in new biopic Rocketman 'difficult to watch'

His journey to rock superstardom has been documented in the lauded new biopic, Rocketman. 

But Elton John says he finds some of the film's more self-destructive scenes difficult to watch. 

The 72-year-old, who is played by Taron Egerton in the movie, says it was important to be honest about his battles with drugs, bulimia, mental illness and his sexuality.

'I couldn't cope with success': Elton John revealed in an interview published Saturday that he finds scenes featuring his descent into drug addiction and bulimia in new biopic Rocketman 'difficult to watch'. Pictured in 2019

'I couldn't cope with success': Elton John revealed in an interview published Saturday that he finds scenes featuring his descent into drug addiction and bulimia in new biopic Rocketman 'difficult to watch'. Pictured in 2019

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph the singer revealed: 'This is how my life was, and I didn't want to cover it and gloss it over. 

'And it's difficult to watch because I thought, "God, I don't want to go back there, thank god I came out of it."

Elton went on to tell the publication that he struggled under the weight of his own fame, but wanted to be honest about his journey. 

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph the singer revealed: 'This is how my life was, and I didn't want to cover it and gloss it over.' Pictured: A scene from Rocketman

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph the singer revealed: 'This is how my life was, and I didn't want to cover it and gloss it over.' Pictured: A scene from Rocketman 

Open: The 72-year-old says it was important to be honest about his battles with drugs, bulimia, mental illness and his sexuality. Pictured in 1973

Open: The 72-year-old says it was important to be honest about his battles with drugs, bulimia, mental illness and his sexuality. Pictured in 1973

He said: 'Success was fantastic and then I couldn't cope with it. And you can't leave out the bad'. 

In 2010, Elton was very frank in discussing his drug use and bulimia during an interview with Piers Morgan.

The pop star said at the time that he was 'very close' to dying due to the excesses of his existence. 

Troubled: The pop star said at the time that he was 'very close' to dying due to the excesses of his existence. Pictured in the 1970s

Troubled: The pop star said at the time that he was 'very close' to dying due to the excesses of his existence. Pictured in the 1970s

Star turn: Elton is played by Taron Egerton in the lauded new biopic (pictured)

Star turn: Elton is played by Taron Egerton in the lauded new biopic (pictured) 

He said: 'I would have an epileptic seizure and turn blue, and people would find me on the floor and put me to bed. Then 40 minutes later I'd be snorting another line.

'This is how bleak it was, I'd stay up, I'd smoke joints, I'd drink a bottle of Johnnie Walker and then I'd stay up for three days.'

He also suffered from an eating disorder, explaining:  'I'd binge and have three bacon sandwiches, a pot of ice cream and then I'd throw it up, because I became bulimic. And then go and do the whole thing all over again. That is how tragic my life was.'   

Elton said: 'Success was fantastic and then I couldn't cope with it. And you can't leave out the bad'. Pictured with Taron Egerton at the Cannes premiere of Rocketman in 2019

Elton said: 'Success was fantastic and then I couldn't cope with it. And you can't leave out the bad'. Pictured with Taron Egerton at the Cannes premiere of Rocketman in 2019 

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