I don’t even want to post this, but Daily Mail is reporting that George Michael is dead. 🙁
Pop star George Michael has died aged 53 at his home in Oxfordshire. The musician’s publicist said that he had ‘passed away peacefully’ at his property in Goring at 1.42pm today. Michael’s former manager Michael Lippman claimed he had died in bed as a result of ‘heart failure.’ Police have announced that they are not treating the star’s death as suspicious. Thames Valley Police said officers were called to a property in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, shortly before 2pm on Christmas Day.
So damn sad.
Ugh, now Carrie Fisher has died, also of heart issues. 🙁
This year seems to have a lot more celebrity deaths than usual.
I saw this on IG just a little bit ago and cried. I’m gutted. I had the most massive crush on him when I was a very young adolescent and for years after, I think mostly after he’d gone solo, but also loved the older Wham! selections because of him. I still play cds regularly. What a voice. What a loss.
I had a huge ceush on him to. I remember I kind of knew what being gay was, and that he was, but I didn’t fully understand that meant me and George Michael would never be together. RIP.
Okay, this is the worst news. I loved him & also had huge crush on him. This makes me incredibly sad. Thank you for posting this. RIP
Awww, man. So sick of 2016.
Oh my, so young. He was a truly gifted artist and will be missed. I had the biggest crush on him for years and still think he was HOT to the end. RIP.
I’m never gonna dance again, guilty feet have got no rythmn” RIP Geroge.
No!!! Jees 2016 is the year that just doesn’t stop. Hope 2017 is more forgiving. RIP George! I’ll be putting you on replay for the rest of the night
David Bowie, Prince and George Michael in the same year.
I’m proud of y’all for not making the Last Christmas joke though. Well done.
Well over at our British humor site, the headline was. “WHAM! DEAD at 53.” Which was pretty fucking hilarious. But we don’t do that here with the Americans. They would not understand,
Well over at our British humor site, the headline was. “WHAM! DEAD at 53.” Which was pretty fucking hilarious. But we don’t do that here with the Americans. They would not understand,
That’s pretty funny.
I was having Xmas dinner with family, and we were all doing the post Xmas dinner cleanup while blasting George Michael’s Last Christmas when my sister suddenly screamed because she saw it on her timeline. I am so upset I had to leave before dessert. Like Bowie & Prince he also is part of the soundtrack to my life. He was A fucking iconic pop star with a stunning legacy of music & videos. 💔
He wrote Careless Whisper when he was 17, Yes 17!
I was Lucky enough to see WHAM! and George Michael in concert over the years. The last time I saw him in concert it was during very tough economic times in the US, and he profusely thanked the audience for spending money, hard earned money in tough times, just to see his show . He was a class act.
Freedom.
WHAT? ? That’s so sad, I was literally listening to Freedom on my way home from my brother’s house today.
Such a sad year in terms of musician deaths, nearly all of them meant something special to me.
Completely gutted. I’ve considered myself his biggest fan for over 30 years. Sadly, I’m not shocked. But the heartache at such loss is immense.
So very sad…this has been such a tragic year in that we’ve lost many icons. Makes me so sad to think about…
May George rest in peace. Thank you for the memories…
The 90s was probably his darkest time and yet he’s still managed to produce some of the most heartfelt and beautiful songs in his career. ‘Older’ is probably my all-time favorite album of his. Rest in peace George, we rejoice in the fact that he’s left an invaluable legacy with his music and that his lovely soul has finally been set free.
I haven’t been on my smart phone much in the last two days and saw the news when I finally bothered to check this afternoon.
Kept it together because I didn’t think some of the people I was with would “get” it and I didn’t want to hear the teasing (we are teasers, to be fair).
But inside, I am devastated.
September 1988. My senior year of high school.
Faith tour.
My first concert without my parents (who simply gave us a ride in my dad’s 1968 Cadillac – went to a nice dinner on the Tacoma waterfront, and waited for us afterward The Tacoma Dome actually had a waiting room for parents set up!!).
Still one of the best concerts I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing.
Later in my college years – poster of him and his beautiful ass adorned my walls, with my roommate and I often declaring the line (I think from SNL) that “my butt can rule continents”. 🙂 Aretha who legendarily asked if he was sure he wasn’t black because he sure had soul in his voice.
My God – the man responsible for the much of the soundtrack of my life from 18 to 22 is gone and I can’t believe it. I had hopes for him making it to the top again just to shut all the negative fuckers up.
Oh, and if James Kennedy makes hay out of this, I swear to God I will be seriously tempted to buy a plane ticket and go throat punch that evil little twit right in that ridiculous fucking Adam’s apple.
His folks made George Michael’s life miserable at times – they’re probably already on the phone with the fucking tabloids.
I didn’t want to bring that despicable family up. They are all a bunch of twats and they will TOTALLY try to capitalize on this.
Sorry. I should have thought of that.
I honestly just posted my first comment and then got an instant vision of that twat crying to Lisa and got seriously RAGINGLY angry for a few moments. Like 17 year old fan girl angry and I needed to vent.
I’m good now. I will not be upset if you delete.
I ust remembered that I’ve not watched any of the new ANTM… so going to give that a try, and NOT go into YouTube to watch his videos. I don’t want to ugly cry right now.
I am shocked – too much loss David Bowie, Prince, and George Michael, how much must we give up? 2016 seriously sux logs!
I’ve never loved anyone more than a guy from Isle of Palms named Christopher. I was quite young and my overprotective mother actually allowed me drive down to stay at the house my brother had rented for everyone. I was a legal adult, but I was mystified that I could.
I’d literally never been anywhere or done anything other than going to clubs in Atlanta. LOTS of guys were asking me out. ON DATES. I had an awkward HS experience where I was ugly and boys didn’t like me my senior year, but I started college at the same time and the guys there thought I was all that AND a bag of chips. So I had one relationship there, but on IOP I was young, dumb and had a smart mouth.
Christopher was the blond surfer type. Not my type, I dated a guy who was a model, and could not stop talking about how hot he was a couple of times. The fam was there for a week. I had a couple of drinks with several guys, and one day I walked in to Wind Of Change. A bar that no longer exists, and asked the bartender if this is where the hot guys play beach volleyball during the day. He said, “Yep, this is where we play.”
And that was it. Except it wasn’t. Long after the fam left, I stayed there with Christopher. We hosted parties, we went to parties, we went to eat on Front Street, It was the best time of my life, ‘
And I fucked it up. The entire time there was another guy vying for my attention. He was part of the group I was now a part of. So I ended up breaking Christopher’s heart. He wanted to get married and I was not ready for that. Anyway, I overshare once again to say that shortly after all of that happened and I was back home in Atlanta, Careless whisper came out.
To this day, the lyrics “I’m never gonna dance again, guilty feet ain’t got no rhythm, I’m never going to dance again the way I danced with you,” make me sob and flee any store it might be piped into.
I used to get drunk and call him a lot. Then when I was at UGA he got drunk and showed up outside my apartment. I of course let him in and he stayed the night, He had a business thing he was supposed to do that morning and probably got fired, He was not happy with anyone the next morning,
He somehow blamed me for him getting drunk and driving to see me. Then he started getting married, He’s been married a lot since then, It looks like the last one took.
George Michael is the soundtrack to that angst filled time in my life,
I haven’t danced since, Literally,
I feel like I broke him. I don’t want to break anyone else
Wow. This is getting too deep,
I know this is off the subject, but I love your writing style. I felt like I was reading a romance novel.
2016 can fuck off. So tired of death. RIP
The Grim Reaper is taking the pi$$. I’ve loved Wham! and George Michael since the beginning. I saw them in concert as an early teen and had the privilege to speak with him at club in Covent Garden, Central London back in 1995. I tried to keep my cool but couldn’t help scream out his name when he walked past me, I was embarrassed because it was so unlike me to behave like that. About 25 minutes later he approached me and my friend making small talk. It only lasted a minute. I was in awe of him.
I’m starting to feel old with the deaths of my teen idols.
Wham was probably my first favorite. I discovered them in 2nd grade. I discovered lust in 7th grade from his video “Faith” …that stubble, those jeans. Like Yoya, I thought I’d somehow end up with him❤️❤️❤️
I was discussing this with the same brother I spent the holiday with – just the average “wow what a shame RIP” sort of stuff. Suddenly he breaks down sobbing. We have the same taste in music and have commiserated over many an icon without either of us crying ..Kurt Cobain, Joe Strummer, Lou Reed, everyone this year etc etc.
When I asked him what was wrong he told me the story of how watching George Michael coming out on live TV gave him the courage to do the same and it blew my mind. The man wasn’t just talented, he was a role model and it makes me appreciate him all the more.
Can you give your brother a hug from me? This made me cry.
That is really beautiful and important. Thank you for saying it.
Heart failure? Sounds too vague. He obviously had a health condition they are not disclosing. 53 is way too young. 😩 I was too young to be a fan in his prime, but discovered his music through my mother. Careless whisper will forever be an iconic pop classic. Last Christmas is equally great. I even liked an album he released early 2000s. He will be missed. RIP
According to the Daily Mail, GM left most of his multi million estate to his Godchildren. James Kennedy of VPR being one of them.
Its the Daily Mail. I would wait for the BBC to confirm.
Or perhaps not, being that James dad and George Michael’s relationship became estranged.
RIP, Carrie Fisher. Going to reread your books and celebrate you instead of railing against that asshole Grim Reaper who ran amok in 2016.
Yes! Planning to reread one.
Carrie was brilliant. I can’t imagine how her mother and children are feeling right now. I’m sure that Carrie took care of her mother financially for quite some time. Carrie made good money as a script doctor because she was so damned smart. She probably made more from Star Wars, but I’ll bet she enjoyed writing more than acting.
That said, I do remember seeing her in Shampoo and thinking, “wait, is that Carrie Fisher???”
NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!
How sad 🙁 Ricky Harris also died of heart issues at the age of 54 yesterday. All of them were much too young.
I am not big into astrology or numerology, but a friend of mine is and she told me something that made a little sense about the overly abundant amount of celeb deaths this year, legends in particular. The year 2016 is a 9 universal year (2+0+1+6=9). 9 is a finishing number which represents completion and the end of a cycle. That would make 2016 a year of completion. 9 also is the number of the humanitarian and represents the creative forces in arts and culture. Just something I wanted to throw out here to see if this makes sense to anyone else.
Thanks, Kevin. I have heard the same thing. I guess next year will be New Beginnings?
And yes – it makes complete sense to me, if you couldn’t tell by my reply.
Kevin, it is because they’re baby boomers. There are a gazillion of us, and we’re aging. We are going to lose more people from this generation for a while, and it’s going to hurt.
Yeah, Cara you’re right. And the 80’s were full of drugs and alcohol. That’s one of the reasons we’re losing some of these folks…those were some fast living years and all that kinda living takes a toll on our bodies.
One more thing, Kevin, before I piss T off. (I hope you see this.) Think of 2017 as “New beginnings through conscious acts of attention”. OK. I’m banishing myself for awhile.
2016 wow. What an asshole.
I am broken hearted over Carrie Fisher and George Michael.
The 80s were so much fun and George Michael was such a huge part of them for me. Stirrup pants, ripped, acid washed jeans, leather jackets, cross earrings, and so much reminds me of him.
RIP Carrie Fisher and George Michael.
I’m going to celebrate the end of this year so fucking hard. Screw you, 2016. Screw you.
Just. no,
Sat crying in a McDonald’s in Canada when I got the news alert about Carrie Fisher on my phone, even though I knew from the get-go that the circumstances made it highly unlikely she would survive. Why is this so painful? I think for me it isn’t so much about Star Wars, or my childhood – it’s how balls-out directly she spoke up against the stigmatizing of the mentally ill. She made no apologies for her own struggle. Her response to being called the poster child for bipolar disorder: “Well, I AM hoping to make the centerfold of Psychology Today.” That made such a difference to so many people. A great soul, a tremendous broad, a compassionate spirit.
A friend posted on his FB page Mark Hamill’s statement referring to Carrie as our Princess. I said, she wasn’t just a princess, she was a warrior.
And she was, in many ways.
Yes, Erica! Thanks so much for posting that. He obviously loved her deeply. In the late 70’s and early 80’s I met two of the Holy Star Wars Trinity – Mark Hamill, and Harrison Ford. Both experiences are etched in stone upon my normally Jello-based memories. But I would have traded them both for the chance to have 10 minutes with Carrie Fischer. I did think it might happen, when she attended the opening night of Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women (my then-husband was the technical director of the theater, so I had a free opening night seat in an otherwise star-studded crowd). But I never ran into her after the show (I did run into Lauren Bacall – story for another time). I just have this vivid memory of someone saying “Oh, and there’s Carrie Fisher”, and I saw where she was sitting, and she had her feet propped up on the seat in front of her and she looked supremely comfortable. How’s that for a life aspiration? To feel (not look or be) supremely comfortable.
I have two new books to read – Andy Cohen’s and Kathy Griffin’s – but I think I’ll order her latest on Amazon.
If any of you are readers, start with Postcards from the Edge. Carrie Fisher was a fantastic wordsmith. Is it any wonder that she was a “script doctor”?
Couldn’t agree more – “Postcards from the Edge”! I also enjoyed “Wishful Drinking” a great deal. And you nailed it again, Erica. Wordsmith. That’s what script doctors do. And that’s what Carrie Fisher WAS.
DalaiMama – thank you.
Not sure where my hardback copies are of her books. I might have to reread all of them before the new one now that I think about it.
One of my greatest regrets is that I didn’t see her on stage when Wishful Drinking was near me.
Both George Michael and Carrie Fisher are defining figures of my childhood and beyond especially since I’m the youngest of my siblings (all sisters) and both were important to them and even more important to me. Their loss is just difficult as role models and artists (as I am also an artist).
My God, now Debbie Reynolds is taken to the hospital with a possible stroke? Suffered WHILE planning her daughter’s funeral? NO.
TMZ is saying she died. God, I hope they are wrong.
Just saw that on “breaking news.” I was thinking how tragic it is for a parent to lose a child no matter what the age. It’s certainly one of my worst fears. She was quite a lady.
My 92 year old father just told me he had a crush on Debbie when he was in his 20s.
What a lovely, talented woman. Beyond sad.
They have a summer classic movie series in my city. Her movies are usually sold out for all 3 showings. Bus and car loads of grandfathers with their grandsons and grandmothers with their little granddaughters in frilly dresses and anklets.
I’m sure there is much more than her public persona. Does anyone know anything else about her?
You learn a bit from Carrie’s autobiography. FYI, Postcards is semiautobiographical novel, not an autobiography.
One thing about Debbie – she was a HUGE movie memorabilia collector and tried multiple times to make a go of a museum. I went to the one in Vegas – I don’t remember much of it though.
I was fortunate to have met Debbie Reynolds years back when she was in our town filming a movie. She was always friendly and gracious. She never turned anyone away when asked to sign an autograph or pose for a picture. I was eating in a diner with my then newborn and as Debbie was passing my table she stopped to admire my daughter and told me to enjoy the time with her as kids grow up so fast. She also said that daughters were a gift from heaven. What a sad time for he
Debbie and her family. 🙁
That’s a wonderful story! I just saw something tonight that Debbie and Carrie lived next door to each other..it must have been too much for her to bear 🙁
Jenn there is a documentary coming out in 2017 about their relationship and lives. Cannot wait. There are sneak peaks on YouTube with Carrie taking a pot of food to share with her mum.
I should have read further before I posted my question. Thanks so much for sharing your encounter.
Oh No! RIP Debbie Reynolds! Will the 2016 death toll stop NOW!
I signed up for Amazon Prime just to watch Postcards from the Edge ❤️😢
I’m watching it tonight too Jenn. 2 incredible women done perfect justice by MacLaine and Streep. Rest in peace funny ladies 😔
Thanks for the heads up. I love my Prime, but didn’t realize Postcards was available.
James Lipton was on Lawrence O”Donnell’s show tonight and said now he knows one can die of a broken heart. He had always thought it was just a saying until today.
This has been a devastating week. So many sad losses. Fuck you 2016!
But If you have HBO on Demand and want a real treat, watch Wishful Drinking. It’s Carrie’s one woman autobiographical stage show. It’s absolutely brilliant and hilarious! I hadn’t seen it in several years and I had forgotten how shockingly funny it was. I laughed so hard late last night that I woke my partner up who was sleeping way on the side of the house.
I had a look and you can download Wishful Drinking from Amazon for $9.99 or iTunes for $12.99. It’s not free with Amazon Prime though. If you would like to see it (and own it) it’s well worth the money. And you’ll be supporting Carrie’s family too. 🙂
Thanks for the recommendation, Jim. I’ve never seen it. I just checked HBO & they’re playing it on Jan 1 (at least in Cali).
It’s good to know that HBO added it to their regular lineup again. Thanks! I may watch it on Demand again tonight. This time I’ll be sure my partner watches it with me. I’m not sure that he’s ever seen it. He loves Carrie (and Debbie too) but I watch a helluva lot more TV than he does. Lol.