George Michael: Sex Arrest was Deliberate
George Michael talks about losing his partner to AIDS, the death of his mother, getting caught cruising in a bathroom in a park in Beverly Hills, and his drug arrests.
Said the singer: "I lost my partner to HIV then it took about three years to grieve; then after that I lost my mother. I felt almost like I was cursed. The only thing that got me through it was my music. It survived. I wrote very, very little, but the little I wrote did well and kept my head above water...It was depression and shock which just went on for years."
He also says he's come to realize his arrest for public sex was something he did deliberately.
Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted Jul. 23,2008 at 12:25 PM EST by Andy Towle in George Michael, Music, News | Permalink
I love George Michael . . . Bluth. George Michael the singer? He's become gross, strange and pitiful.
Posted by: Jacob | Jul 23, 2008 12:52:45 PM
ahhhh, my first high school crush. Welcome back George! :-)
Posted by: adam in CHGO | Jul 23, 2008 12:55:37 PM
I saw two concerts this summer- one was George Michael 25 year Tour, he was amazing! Great to see him doing well. The other one was the comeback of this year! Cyndi Lauper- wow..the woman can sing!! Her new album is highly HIGHLY recommended.
Posted by: Eric | Jul 23, 2008 1:05:35 PM
let's face it, what gay man hasn't cruised a t-room? or had one toke too many? and anyone brave enuff to buy damien hirst's 'saint sebastian' for his personal art collection is a-ok in my book!!!
Posted by: Bading | Jul 23, 2008 1:14:43 PM
let's face it, what gay man hasn't cruised a t-room? or had one toke too many? and anyone brave enuff to buy damien hirst's 'saint sebastian' for his personal art collection is a-ok in my book!!!
Posted by: Bading | Jul 23, 2008 1:17:10 PM
Not many gay men cruise t-rooms. Isn't it mostly closeted straight men?
Posted by: JeffNYC | Jul 23, 2008 1:28:10 PM
I've never cruised a t-room, nor had even one toke, much less "one toke too many." Still, I don't really care if Michael or others do. I have to agree with Jacob, though. George has indeed become gross, strange and pitiful.
Posted by: rick | Jul 23, 2008 1:52:52 PM
Listening to the interview, it's actually rather insightful when he says:
"Cruising has gone on for as long as there have been men trying to hide their sexuality."
He doesn't generalize it to "gay men." Another great quote was "God, you're gonna get fat." Great interview.
Posted by: Aman Chaudhary | Jul 23, 2008 2:47:59 PM
What’s up with the dime store Yenta sunglasses?
Posted by: ggreen | Jul 23, 2008 2:54:24 PM
never cruised a t-room? never had a toke? what is this place? the convent of the most sacred sphincter?
Posted by: BADING | Jul 23, 2008 5:25:36 PM
I have never cruised a bathroom. And frankly, the only people I've ever heard use the term "t-room" were over the age of 60.
I have, however, had a toke or two... err, two thousand.
Posted by: crispy | Jul 23, 2008 5:45:45 PM
Great concert, he was the sound track to my coming out. Made some bad choices but don't we all. At least he owns up to them.
Posted by: patrick nyc | Jul 23, 2008 6:13:50 PM
"One More Try" is one of the greatest ballads in pop music--and very gay, without being explicitly gay at all. Beautiful, beautiful song.
Posted by: Sportin' Life | Jul 23, 2008 8:17:19 PM
Gawd I wanna bone Chris Cuomo.
As for George Michael, I'm not much of a pop fan, but I do give the guy credit for maturing as an artist, moving beyond the bubblegum fluff of his early career, and actually putting out some rather thoughtful, well-crafted music.
Posted by: E-Z | Jul 23, 2008 8:51:00 PM
I once flirted with a guy in the men's room at work. He got the robo-auto dispenser to spit out some paper towels for me. Does that count as cruising?
Posted by: Weezy | Jul 23, 2008 10:07:37 PM
I am a gay 40-year old who grew up among Baptist hillbillies north of Asheville, NC. I had no idea what a T-room was until I was 30 and was told, never cruised, don't get me started on my fully repressed young adulthood...but...George Michael's music spoke to me from adolescence on, and as I came out and gradually understood the full meaning of the lyrics to "Freedom," my appreciation of his accomplishments and survival skills has only grown. Please rock on, George, for all those who still need to find grace under pressure.
Posted by: ScottM | Jul 24, 2008 7:06:05 AM