Elton John Serves Hot Take on Oscars Venue: "It's Like a Starbucks" Photo Illustration: Michael Kovac/Getty Images for EJAF; Richard Harbaugh/AMPAS; Adobe Stock Elton John critiqued the look of the Oscars, which took place at Union Station on April 25. The singer's annual viewing party, benefiting the Elton John AIDS Foundation, went virtual this year, with John giving his honest opinion on Sunday's Academy Awards during commercial breaks: "I still can't get over the set." "It's a pain," remarked Elton John to co-host Neil Patrick Harris at the top of this year's Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party on Sunday night. He was describing how it felt to pivot the 29th annual affair from an in-person, glamour-drenched fundraiser to a streaming event due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but he was quick to walk back the comment. "It's not a pain. I wish we could be there. It's more fun to be there. This is the only way we could do it."