Sir Elton John has voiced his dissatisfaction at comments made about HIV by a Trevor Clarke, Northern Irish politician.
Democratic Unionist Clarke stated he did not realise heterosexual people could contract the virus until he was educated by a charity last year.
Sir Elton, due to perform in Belfast tonight said in response to Clarke: “What planet are you on?”
Appearing on the Victoria Derbyshire programme, Sir Elton admitted that many outdated misbeliefs surrounding HIV still exist.
The singer was unperturbed to hear details of a survey that revealed one third of people in the UK believed HIV could be contracted through sharing a toothbrush, remarking: “I’m not surprised.
“A Northern Ireland politician said the other day he didn’t know that heterosexual people could get Aids, or HIV.”
Mr Clarke had commented on Tuesday that he had been “ignorant” about the facts surrounding HIV until his meeting with Positive Life, an organisation working to help those living with the virus.
The DUP MLA, who represents the South Antrim constituency stated: “I have to put on record my thanks to Jacquie Richardson from Positive Life. Meeting her for the first time was a turning point for me, having been ignorant of the fact that the disease also affects heterosexual people.”
Clark’s comments were apart of a debate in the Northern Ireland Assembly calling for the initiation of a fresh HIV awareness campaign.