‘Careless Whispers’ singer George Michael “passed away peacefully at home” yesterday at the age of fifty-three, reports the BBC.
George Michael’s manager said that the artist died of heart failure.
News of George Michael’s death has left people around the world reeling. Andrew Ridgeley, former Wham! member of, said that he was “heartbroken at the loss of my beloved friend.”
“Me, his loved ones, his friends, the world of music, the world at large. 4ever loved. A xx,” Ridgeley wrote on Twitter.
Sir Elton John took to Instagram to express his “shock” at the death of the gay singer.
“I am in deep shock,” he said. “I have lost a beloved friend – the kindest, most generous soul and a brilliant artist. My heart goes out to his family and all of his fans.”
At 1:42 pm GMT on Christmas Day, the South Central Ambulance Service were called to Michael’s house where the star was confirmed to be dead.
The Thames Valley Police have confirmed the death and indicated that they are not treating the death as suspicious.
“At this stage, the death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious. A post-mortem will be undertaken in due course,” the police said.
George Michael rose to fame with his schoolfriend Alan Ridgeley in Wham! whose hits include ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go Go’ and the perennial festive song ‘Last Christmas’ which every year heralds the holidays.
George Michael went on to be a successful solo artist with hits including ‘Faith’ and ‘Outside’, with the singer releasing the music video to ‘Outside’ to ridicule an incident in 1998 which saw him arrested in a public toilet for engaging in sexual activity and led the artist to reveal that he was gay.
The music video for ‘Outside’ featured a men’s bathroom which changed into a disco and featured policemen kissing.
Michael was also arrested several times in the past ten years for driving under the influence and possession of drugs.
In 2011, George Michael suffered from pneumonia and in 2013 he injured his head when he fell out of his car.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu3VTngm1F0
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