George Michael: A life hidden in plain sight

The fear of social ostracism prevented him from being with his beloved when he was dying. George Michael was afraid to admit to the world that he was gay, but the loss of the love of his life caused something in him to break. On the occasion of the artist's 61st birthday, we look closely at his life.

George Michael was born on June 25, 1963. Since he was a child, he dreamed of being famous. Unfortunately, popularity also became his curse, and he fought a somewhat uneven battle. He wanted the world to focus on his work and not his private life, which he tried to keep exclusively for himself. On December 25, 2016, he unexpectedly passed away.

George Michael and Brazilian designer and stylist Anselmo Feleppa met in 1991 at a concert in Rio de Janeiro. The men lost their heads for each other almost immediately. However, their happiness did not last long. After less than six months of knowing each other, the artist's beloved found out he had AIDS.

Due to his deteriorating health, the man returned to Brazil, where his family took care of him. Unfortunately, Michael did not choose to visit him. He was trying at all costs to hide the fact that he was gay. Not even his closest associates knew.

Fearing someone would discover his secret, the artist did not attend his beloved's funeral either. However, he decided to visit his mother. These events had a significant impact on the star's life. Eventually, he revealed his secret to his loved ones and the world. It quickly turned out that his mother was not surprised at all.

After Feleppa's death and his coming out, the star decided to support the LGBT+ community. However, he could not cope with the loss.

He sought solace in alcohol and drugs, which had a significant impact on his life. On December 25, 2016, the star died in his home in Goring-on-Thames, and the official cause was said to be dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver. However, his death sparked much controversy, as his then-partner, Fadi Fawaz, was said to have spent that night in a car under the building.