The sister of singer George Michael has spoken out against Michael’s longtime friend and fellow out gay singer Elton John after remarks John made suggesting George Michael was never comfortable with his sexuality.
Appearing on the TV show The Talk, John spoke out about his late friend, noting he was “so uncomfortable in his skin about being gay even though he said he wasn’t.” Michael had come out to friends as bisexual at age 19 and came out publicly in 1999.
Related: LISTEN: New George Michael song released – his first since 2012
Now George Michael’s sister Melanie Panayiotou, 55, tells The Big Issue that George Michael had no problem with his sexuality, referring to him as “my ‘very-proud-to-be-gay’ brother, contrary to what you may have read recently.”
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In interviews following his coming out, George Michael admitted that he dated both men and women and struggled with his sexuality while part of the pop group Wham! in the 1980s. He also feared that with AIDS rampant at the time, and with his mother still living, that he would bring disgrace to his career if he ever came out. Following his 1998 arrest for propositioning a man in a public bathroom, and his subsequent coming out a year later, George Michael confessed to suffering from depression after leaving Wham! over fears that he may be outed. That said, in the years that followed, Michael never shied away from discussing his love life or sexuality in interviews.
drew56
Can Elton just please stop talking about others to promote himself? Please Elton, ?
Ronbo
Elton John canceled concerts to perform for Rush Limbaugh at one of his weddings. I think we know who is uncomfortable being gay. As you may know, Rush is a tiny dancer.
RIGay
George Michael was always very self-loathing about his sexuality and frequently make quite negative generalizations about the mental state of the gay community in an attempt to hide his own emotional state. Though his “Wham!” photo spreads may have helped fuel many a closeted gay boys desired, his words never did the community any great service at the time.
In his last year(s), it appeared that he was finally coming around – his outlook became more upbeat. It’s a shame he never let himself actually live it.
Far be it for me to comment on Sir Elton and Georges sister – from what I see, one intimately knew the man’s struggles, the other is probably just happy to white-wash the memories of her brother.
Curtispsf
Yeah, George Michael was so ashamed about being gay that he fronted a documentary about HIV to coincide with World Aids Day the year he came out. The film, Staying Alive, focused on the experiences of six young people from different countries who were either infected with or affected by the HIV virus. If that’s not pride or activism, I don’t know what is.
Sir Elton, you’ve become the quintessential old lady in a shoe. How about writing some new songs instead of making headlines about someone who can’t defend himself because he’s dead? Or are THOSE days over for you?
dhmonarch89
Elton has swallowed his foot so many times, his tongue has athlete’s foot. He really needs to shut up.
JoshGL
Given that Elton is a huge foot fetishist…that tracks.
Glynn
Renata says: Elton Darling – Just Shut Up Puh-lease?
bonbon
Time for Elton John to mind his own business.
Jack Meoff
Another seniors moment from Ms. Elton, time to retire
Cam
If we’re talking about people who are uncomfortable being gay, let’s not forget that Elton John attacked the LGBT community for fighting for marriage claiming it wasn’t a big deal and civil unions were fine. Typical self hater trying to say “Hey, it’s ok if you discriminate against me”.
Then when he couldn’t adopt a child because the foreign country said his civil union wasn’t the same as a marriage, SUDDENLY Elton because a marriage advocate. He didn’t care until it effected him directly.