09/20/2007
George Michael Pulls Out of Stephen Fry BBC HIV Documentary
George Michael has demanded that scenes featuring his interviews be removed from a new Stephen Fry documentary entitled HIV and Me scheduled to be broadcast on the BBC in October.
The BBC released a statement: "George Michael isn't in the documentary because, on reflection, this was too personal a journey for George to revisit."
Michael's spokeswoman added that revisiting his ex-lover's death from AIDS would be too painful for the singer: "On reflection, he felt it was too close and too personal a journey for George to take and he asked for his contribution to be removed. It was too personal for Anselmo's family to revisit."
The Daily Mail speculates that Michael may have been unhappy over advance publicity by the documentary's producer Ross Wilson, who said last June: "George says he does not believe in [HIV] tests. He says he finds the wait for results too harrowing and that he hasn't had a test since at least 2004 due to his fears it might be positive."
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 10:15 AM EST by Andy in AIDS/HIV, George Michael, Great Britain, News, Stephen fry, Television | Permalink
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If it was "too personal" then why did he do the interviews in the first place? If he doesn't want to revisit it, then just don't watch the show.
What a dick.
Posted by: Gregg | Sep 20, 2007 10:44:12 AM
George makes a habit of exhibiting the behaviors of a man who does not respect himself.
That said, his stand on testing is pretty common. I hear too many guys (especially those who engage in dangerous sex) say exactly the same thing: "I'm too afraid to find out."
With the advent of rapid testing (20-minute wait time), I hope he can re-educate himself and embrace the responsibility of knowing his sero-status.
Posted by: Becks07 | Sep 20, 2007 10:49:26 AM
One would think that a grown man could overcome his fear of finding out if he has the disease in favor of protecting future sexual partners from the disease...What a selfish asshole. That guy is a Grade A jackass.
Posted by: Michael W. | Sep 20, 2007 10:58:21 AM
George Michael would benefit from viewing Mayor Sanders press conference video. Sanders change of position on marriage comes not from “doing the right thing” but from LOVE…
Love for his daughter….
Love for his staff members…
Love for his wife…
Love for humanity.
One would hope that Michael’s experience of losing his lover to AIDS would give him the gift empathy that would allow him to see that the pain of revisiting the loss could be a great gift which honors the memory of their relationship and helps to educate others of the devastating impact this disease continues to have on our world.
I’d like to ask Michael the same question Pink posed to George W. about sending young men and women to die in a needless war…
How do you sleep at night?
Posted by: My2Cents | Sep 20, 2007 11:30:33 AM
If there was ever a person who I would encourage to go into the Exodus reclosetization program it would be George Michael.
Every time I think that everyone should come out, a George Michael comes along and I have to completely reconsider the fantasy that every person who comes out can be an ambassador for how normal and good gay people can be.
The reality is, gay people coming out DOES show that we are "normal", just as good, and JUST as f*cked up as anyone else. I think GM wins the prize for being the poster boy of just how messed up an OUT gay man can be.
Posted by: Zeke | Sep 20, 2007 11:43:11 AM
Would someone please tell George Michael that HIV is no longer a death sentence?! Yeah, the drugs suck. The side effects can be awful. But they sure beat DYING!
And BECKS07 is absolutely correct when he says that too many gay men don't get tested out of fear. In fact, I met someone who is a fairly regular contributor here at towleroad and whose blog is listed just to the right of this post. He was all interested in me until I revealed that I was HIV positive and then he went running like a scared little rabbit. That's when I learned he's never even been tested himself! He refuses to get tested because he's 'afraid of needles'. Puh-leeze! Get over yourself, Missy.
Finally, I would echo MICHAEL W's view that those who don't get tested are Grade A jackasses for possibly exposing sex partners to a really lousy disease.
xo,
peterparker
Posted by: peterparker | Sep 20, 2007 12:34:45 PM
You sound like good people to me, peterparker!
Posted by: Michael W. | Sep 20, 2007 12:39:58 PM
George Michael is just a jackass.
I resent this mens room glory hole whore speaking as if he's speaking for all gay men.
Posted by: Rad | Sep 20, 2007 12:44:47 PM
Never rely on the "Oh, I'm negative" statement from potential sex partners. Assume everyone is positive.
Posted by: anon (gmail.com) | Sep 20, 2007 12:54:46 PM
Thanks, MICHAEL W! I do my best!
xo,
peterparker
Posted by: peterparker | Sep 20, 2007 1:13:08 PM
If you think waiting for test results is harrowing, try having the disease..
Posted by: atheist | Sep 20, 2007 4:45:50 PM
did try the disease & have to say i'm not impressed. where do i return it?
Posted by: nonneg | Sep 20, 2007 4:52:47 PM