Elton John throws support behind wrongfully imprisoned AGT contestant

Elton John has made a rare, personal Twitter post to praise the performance of an America’s Got Talent star who was wrongfully convicted for 36 years. 

Archie Williams moved audiences to tears and won over the crowd by singing Elton’s classic, Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me on yesterday’s show. 

After watching the performance himself, 73-year-old Elton gave his seal of approval to the singer, as well as his heartbreaking story. 

He wrote: ‘I was moved to tears when I heard Archie’s story and saw him perform “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down on Me”. 

‘The courage and forgiveness shown by him is truly inspiring. The same spirit that the world found so inspiring with Nelson Mandela. Love, E xx’ 

Archie was wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for an attack on a 30-year-old woman in her Louisiana home in 1980. 

The victim was stabbed and raped in the horrific assault, which was later pinned on Archie despite no fingerprint or DNA evidence.

To help himself from going to a dark place in his mind, he would sing and pray to lift his spirits.

Thankfully, with the help of charity The Innocence Project, he was finally able to secure his release in March 2019. 

Naturally, the judges were moved to tears by his incredible performance and unbelievably moving story.

Simon Cowell told him: ‘I will never ever listen to the song in the same way after you. 

‘It took on a whole different meaning for me… this is an audition I would never forget for the rest of my life.’

So moved by the audition, Simon has now become an ambassador of The Innocence Project to help the release of others who have been wrongfully convicted. 

America’s Got Talent is available on Netflix in the UK.

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