George Michael: The secret, heartbreak, and legacy of a music icon
The fear of social ostracism prevented him from being with his beloved during his dying moments. George Michael was afraid to admit to the world that he was gay, but the loss of the love of his life caused something in him to break. On the occasion of the artist's 61st birthday, we look closely at his life.
25 June 2024 08:01
George Michael was born on June 25, 1963. Since he was a child, he dreamed of being famous. Unfortunately, popularity also became his curse, with which he fought a rather uneven battle. He wanted the world to focus on his work and not his private life, which he wanted to keep exclusively for himself. On December 25, 2016, he unexpectedly passed away.
The death of his beloved broke his heart
George Michael and Brazilian designer and stylist Anselmo Feleppa met in 1991 at a concert in Rio de Janeiro. The men fell for each other almost immediately. However, their happiness did not last long. After less than half a year of knowing each other, the artist's beloved discovered he had AIDS.
Due to his deteriorating health, Anselmo returned to Brazil, where his family took care of him. Unfortunately, Michael did not decide to visit him. He was trying at all costs to hide the fact that he was gay. Not even his closest associates knew.
Fearing someone would discover his secret, the artist did not attend his beloved's funeral either. However, he decided to visit his mother. These events had a significant impact on the star's life. Eventually, he revealed his secret to his loved ones and the world. It quickly turned out that his mother was not surprised at all.
The tragic death of George Michael
After Feleppa's death and his coming out, the star decided to support the LGBT+ community. However, he could not cope with the loss.
He sought solace in alcohol and drugs, which had a significant impact on his life. On 25 December 2016, the star died in his home in Goring-on-Thames, and the official cause was said to be dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver. However, his death sparked much controversy, as his then-partner, Fadi Fawaz, was said to have spent that night in a car under the building.
