George Michael phoned in to a UK radio show to respond to reports that his civil partnership ceremony with longtime partner Kenny Goss had been canceled because of the furtive Hampstead Heath cruising incident that has been splashed across the papers:
“I have got no issue with cruising. I've talked about it many times. This is no more of an issue than I ever said it was, it's never been an issue between us. In actual fact, we didn't have our ‘wedding' because we knew at this point in time in the run-up to the tour and with all the rubbish I've had to put up with in the last six months, we wouldn't get a small private wedding, which is what we want. I don't want a big lavish wedding. I wanted something small and quiet but I don't even think that we'd get away with that at the moment. There would be intrusion. So we postponed it on that basis.”
He also told the radio host that he'd recently bought Kenny a £1 million present for their 10th anniversary and he thought that should buy him some leeway with respect to his nocturnal habits in public parks:
“We had a lovely 10th anniversary party and actually my 10th anniversary present to him cost me a million quid so I reckon I should get away with more then. I would actually have to do something he dislikes before the wedding was off.”
And the singer denied he was ashamed by his actions:
“There can't be shame in a situation unless the person is ashamed and I'm certainly not that…I don't want people to think my life is troubled when it's not. I think I should be able to be what I am to young gay people, a man who's managed to succeed in the industry for 25 years.”
Ashamed or not, I think Michael is a bit deluded that his industry success cements his status as a role model. Unfortunately, the public has a notoriously short memory and I think most young gay men, if he's even on their radar, may now just see him as that 80's singer who kept getting caught with his pants down.
George buys betrayed lover £1m gift – and wedding is back on [daily mail]
Kenny to George Michael: Engagement is Off [tr]
Tab: George Michael Sex Cruise on Hampstead Heath [tr]
