Gay Mic Legend Gee Michael Dead at 53

Contents:

• TYLER PERRY OFFERS $100,000 REWARD FOR INFORMATN ON GAY MAN’S MURR
• ANDREW RIDGELEY 'HAD NO IA GEE MICHAEL WAS GAY' BEFORE HE ME OUT TO HIM
• IS WHAM GAY
• GEE MICHAEL HID BEG GAY TO PROTECT HIS REER THE US, ANDREW RIDGELEY SAYS
• GEE {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}GRAMMY AWARD-WNG SGER GEE MICHAEL WAS ONE OF THE LEADG POP STARS OF THE 1980S AND 1990S. HIS 1987 ALBUM 'FAH' WON A GRAMMY FOR BT ALBUM OF THE {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: APR 15, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: MICHAEL PUTLAND/GETTY {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1963-2016){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO WAS GEE MICHAEL?AS A TEENAGER, GEE MICHAEL FORMED THE BAND WHAM! WH HIGH SCHOOL IEND ANDREW RIDGELEY. IN 1984, THE DUO HAD THEIR FIRST WORLDWI H WH "WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO-GO." TWO YEARS LATER, MICHAEL WENT SOLO, RELEASG A H BUT ALBUM FAH, WHICH HAS SOLD MORE THAN 25 LN PI WORLDWI. IN 1998, MICHAEL ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS GAY AFTER BEG ARRTED FOR LEWD NDUCT A PUBLIC RTROOM. MICHAEL NTUED TO PERFORM AND HIS REER HAD A REBOOT THE MID-2000S WH THE RELEASE OF HIS GREATT HS ALBUM TWENTY FIVE. HE NTUED TO TOUR AND DONATED MUCH OF HIS TIME AND WEALTH TO CHARY. MICHAEL DIED OF HEART AND LIVER DISEASE ON DECEMBER 25, 2016, HIS HOME ENGLAND AT THE AGE OF 53.EARLY LIFE AND WHAM!MICHAEL WAS BORN GES KYRIAS PANAYTOU ON JUNE 25, 1963, EAST FCHLEY, LONDON, ENGLAND. ONE OF THE LEADG ARTISTS POPULAR MIC THE 1980S AND 1990S, HE GREW UP AND AROUND LONDON, WHERE HE VELOPED HIS PASSN FOR MIC AT AN EARLY AGE. WHILE HIGH SCHOOL, MICHAEL BEIEND ANDREW RIDGELEY, WH WHOM HE SHARED A LOVE OF POP MIC AND THEY BEGAN PLAYG MIC TOGETHER. BY SOME REPORTS, MICHAEL AND RIDGELEY WERE AN UNLIKELY DUO. MICHAEL WAS PUDGY AND SHY, WHILE RIDGELEY WAS ATTRACTIVE AND OUTGOG. DROPPG OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, MICHAEL AND RIDGELEY STARTED A SHORT-LIVED SKA BAND LLED THE EXECUTIVE. THAT BAND ONLY PLAYED A FEW GIGS BEFORE FELL APART, BUT MICHAEL AND RIDGELEY SOON FOUND SUCCS. IN 1982, THEY LAND A RERDG NTRACT WH INNERVISN RERDS AND BEME KNOWN AS WHAM! THEIR FIRST ALBUM, FANTASTIC!, WAS RELEASED THE UNED KGDOM 1982, AND CLIMBED AS HIGH AS THE NO. 4 SPOT ON THE CHARTS THERE ( WAS RELEASED THE UNED STAT THE FOLLOWG YEAR). WH THEIR YOUTHFUL GOOD LOOKS, WHAM! SOON VELOPED A VOTED FOLLOWG AMONG TEENAGE GIRLS.SONGS: "WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO-GO" AND "CARELS WHISPER" WH THEIR TCHY, MOTOWN-FLUENCED SOUND, WHAM! LIVED UP TO THE TLE OF THEIR SEND ALBUM, MAKE IT BIG (1984). THEY SRED THEIR FIRST NUMBER ONE H THE UNED STAT WH "WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO-GO." THE UP-TEMPO H "EVERYTHG SHE WANTS" AND THE BALLAD "CARELS WHISPER" ALSO REACHED THE TOP OF THE U.S. CHARTS. IN 1984, MICHAEL ALSO PERFORMED WH THE CHARY BAND AID ON THE HOLIDAY SGLE "DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS?" TO BENEF ETHPIAN FAME RELIEF. MICHAEL AND RIDGELEY ALSO DONATED THE PROCEEDS OF THEIR H HOLIDAY SGLE ”LAST CHRISTMAS"/"EVERYTHG SHE WANTS" TO BAND AID’S CHARABLE EFFORTS. A YEAR LATER ON APRIL 7, 1985, WHAM! MA HISTORY AS THE FIRST WTERN POP GROUP TO PERFORM CHA. ON JULY 13, 1985, WHAM! PERFORMED TO RAISE FUNDS FOR ETHPIAN FAME AGA, AT LIVE AID, AND WAS THERE THAT MICHAEL AND {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}ELTON JOHN SANG JOHN'S CLASSIC "DON'T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME," AT WEMBLEY STADIUM LONDON.AS THE LEAD VOLIST AND MA SONGWRER, MICHAEL EMERGED AS THE STAR OF THE GROUP. IT WAS NOT LONG BEFORE HE BROKE OUT ON HIS OWN. HE LEFT AFTER THE GROUP'S 1986 RERDG, MIC OM THE EDGE OF HEAVEN. WHILE WAS NOT AS BIG OF A H AS THEIR EARLIER EFFORTS, THE ALBUM STILL HAD SEVERAL POPULAR SGL, CLUDG "WHERE DID YOUR HEART GO?" AND "I'M YOUR MAN."'FAH'AS A SOLO ARTIST, MICHAEL EARNED HIS FIRST GRAMMY AWARD FOR A DUET WH SOUL IN ARETHA FRANKL. THEIR SGLE, "I KNEW YOU WERE WAG," WON BT R&B PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WH VOL 1987. THAT SAME YEAR, HE MA AN IMPRSIVE BUT WH FAH (1987). TRYG TO SHED HIS TEEN HEARTTHROB IMAGE, HE WENT FOR AN EDGIER LOOK, OFTEN SPORTG A LEATHER JACKET AND A FEW DAYS' WORTH OF STUBBLE. MILLY, HE TOOK A FUNKIER DIRECTN AS WELL WH THE ALBUM. DRIVEN PART BY THE NUMBER ONE TLE TRACK, THE RERDG REACHED THE TOP OF THE ALBUM CHARTS. OTHER HS CLUD "FATHER FIGURE," "MONKEY," AND "ONE MORE TRY." MICHAEL ALSO URTED NTROVERSY WH ANOTHER TRACK ON THE ALBUM—"I WANT YOUR SEX." SOME RAD STATNS THE UNED STAT REFED TO PLAY BEE OF S EXPLIC NTENT WHILE OTHERS WOULD ONLY PLAY LATE AT NIGHT FOR THE SAME REASON. DPE THE CENSORSHIP, FAH WENT ON TO SELL MORE THAN 25 LN PI WORLDWI AND WON THE GRAMMY AWARD FOR ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1988. CONTUG HIS MIL EVOLUTN, MICHAEL RPORATED SOULFUL AND JAZZ ELEMENTS TO HIS SONGS ON LISTEN WHOUT PREJUDICE, VOL. 1 (1990). THE ALBUM FEATURED A FEW HS, CLUDG "PRAYG FOR TIME." FURTHER DISTANCG HIMSELF OM HIS POP IMAGE, HE CHOSE NOT TO STAR THE VIO FOR "FREEDOM 90." INSTEAD, THE VIO FEATURED SUCH MOLS AS NAOMI CAMPBELL, CHRISTY TURLGTON AND CDY CRAWFORD.SOLO CAREERWHILE LISTEN WHOUT PREJUDICE, VOL. 1 RECEIVED SOME POSIVE REVIEWS, THE ALBUM ONLY SOLD ABOUT 1 LN PI. MICHAEL BEME VOLVED A LEGAL BATTLE WH HIS RERDG PANY SONY. FEELG THAT THEY HAD FAILED TO PROPERLY PROMOTE THE RERD, HE WANTED TO END HIS RERDG NTRACT. THE NFLICT DRAGGED ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS, DURG WHICH TIME MICHAEL RERD ONLY A FEW SGL. IN 1991, MICHAEL REPRISED "DON'T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME," HIS DUET WH ELTON JOHN, FOR CHARY. IT BEME A NO. 1 H, WH THE PROCEEDS GOG TO LONDON LIGHTHOE, AN AIDS HOSPICE, AND THE RABOW TST CHILDREN'S CHARY. LATER THAT YEAR, MICHAEL H THE CHARTS WH "TOO FUNKY," A TRACK FEATURED ON RED HOT AND DANCE, AN AIDS CHARY ALBUM. FALLY EE OM HIS NTRACT WH SONY, MICHAEL RELEASED THE ALBUM OLR 1996. TWO TRACKS, "J TO A CHILD" AND "FASTLOVE," BROKE TO THE TOP 10 THE UNED STAT AS DID THE ALBUM. STILL, THE SAL FOR THE RERDG PALED PARISON TO HIS EARLIER EFFORTS WH SOME ATTRIBUTG THIS CLE TO MICHAEL'S TIME AWAY OM THE POP MIC SCENE. MICHAEL DID W SEVERAL ACLAS FOR HIS WORK, HOWEVER, TAKG HOME THE AWARD FOR BT BRISH MALE AT THE BRIT AWARDS AND THE MTV EUROPE AWARDS THAT YEAR.PERSONAL LIFE AND CONTROVERSYIN 1998, MICHAEL MA HEADL, THOUGH THIS TIME NOT FOR HIS MIC. HE WAS ARRTED FOR LEWD NDUCT A MEN'S ROOM AT A PUBLIC PARK LOS ANGEL, CALIFORNIA. AFTER THE CINT, MICHAEL MA A TELEVISN APPEARANCE WHICH HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HE WAS HOMOSEXUAL. THERE HAD BEEN SOME SPECULATN ABOUT HIS SEXUAL ORIENTATN OVER THE YEARS, BUT THIS WAS HIS FIRST PUBLIC STATEMENT ON THE MATTER. HIS NEXT MIL EFFORT WAS A LLECTN OF VERS, SONGS OM THE LAST CENTURY (1999). WHILE RECEIVED SOME POSIVE REVIEWS, ALBUM SAL LAGGED AND WAS HIS LOWT CHARTG ALBUM THE UNED KGDOM. MICHAEL RERD SEVERAL SGL OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, CLUDG A 2000 DUET WH WHNEY HOTON ON THE SONG "IF I TOLD YOU THAT." MICHAEL RELEASED HIS FOURTH SOLO ALBUM, PATIENCE, 2004. INSTEAD OF THE POP CHARTS, HE FOUND SUCCS ON THE DANCE CHARTS. "FLAWLS" AND "AMAZG" BOTH SRED WELL WH DANCE MIC FANS. AFTER THIS RERD, MICHAEL MA MENTS ABOUT GIVG UP THE MIC BS, BUT HIS MORED RETIREMENT WOULD PROVE TO BE SHORT LIVED. A DIFFERENT STORY, A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT MICHAEL'S LIFE AND REER, WAS RELEASED 2005. IN FEBARY 2006, MICHAEL HAD ANOTHER ENUNTER WH THE LAW AND WAS ARRTED ON SPICN OF ILLEGAL DGS LONDON. ACRDG TO A REPORT ROLLG STONE MAGAZE, THE SGER SAID A STATEMENT THAT "'S MY OWN STUPID FLT, AS UAL." A FEW MONTHS LATER, MICHAEL ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS GOG ON TOUR FOR THE FIRST TIME 15 YEARS. HE ALSO RELEASED A LLECTN OF HIS SONGS, ENTLED TWENTY FIVE, THE UNED KGDOM. THE WORK, WHICH CLUD SOME NEW MATERIAL, WAS A CELEBRATN OF MICHAEL'S 25 YEARS MIC.COMEBACKRURRECTG HIS REER THE UNED STAT 2008, MICHAEL MA SEVERAL APPEARANC, RELEASED TWENTY FIVE STATI AND GUT-STARRED ON THE TELEVISN SERI ELI STONE AS A MIL GUARDIAN ANGEL OF SORTS. THE SHOW ALSO FEATURED SOME OF HIS CLASSIC HS. HE WENT ON TO PERFORM ON THE SERI FALE OF THE POPULAR MIL PETN SHOW AMERIN IDOL BEFORE EMBARKG ON A NATNAL TOUR THE SUMMER OF 2008. IN APRIL 2011, MICHAEL RELEASED A VER OF STEVIE WONR'S 1972 SONG, "YOU AND I," AS A GIFT TO PRCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON PRR TO THE UPLE'S WEDDG. IN AUGT OF THAT YEAR, THE SGER-SONGWRER BEGAN PERFORMG AS PART OF HIS SYMPHONI TOUR, WHICH END EARLY AFTER MICHAEL FELL ILL WH PNMONIA A FEW MONTHS TO THE SERI. THE FOLLOWG YEAR, MICHAEL PERFORMED "FREEDOM! 90" AND "WHE LIGHT" AT THE CLOSG CEREMONY OF THE 2012 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAM, HELD LONDON. IN MAY 2013, A 49-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL WAS AIRLIFTED TO A MEDIL FACILY LONDON, ENGLAND, AFTER BEG VOLVED AN ACCINT ON THE M1 MOTORWAY NEAR ST. ALBANS. MICHAEL HAD REPORTEDLY BEEN FOUND AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCINT BY PARAMEDICS AND HAD NOT BEEN SERLY JURED. IN HIS PERSONAL LIFE, MICHAEL WAS A 13-YEAR RELATNSHIP WH KENNY GOSS THAT END 2009. MICHAEL BEGAN A RELATNSHIP WH CELEBRY HAIR STYLIST FADI FAWAZ THAT YEAR UNTIL THE POP IN'S UNTIMELY ATH 2016. AT THE TIME OF HIS ATH, MICHAEL WAS WORKG ON FREEDOM, A SEND DOCUMENTARY ABOUT HIS LIFE, WHICH WAS RELEASED 2017.DEATHMICHAEL DIED ON DECEMBER 25, 2016, AT THE AGE OF 53. AN TOPSY LATER REVEALED THAT THE POP STAR HAD DIED OM NATURAL RELATED TO HEART AND LIVER DISEASE. MICHAEL'S PARTNER FAWAZ FOUND HIM AD AT HIS HOME OXFORDSHIRE ON CHRISTMAS MORNG."IT IS WH GREAT SADNS THAT WE N NFIRM OUR BELOVED SON, BROTHER AND IEND GEE PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY AT HOME OVER THE CHRISTMAS PERD," READ A STATEMENT BY HIS PUBLICIST. FOLLOWG HIS ATH, MANY CHARI AND DIVIDUALS POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT MICHAEL'S GENERO PHILANTHROPIC ACTS AND HOW HE OFTEN DONATED HIS TIME AND MUCH OF HIS WEALTH ANONYMOLY. THE POP STAR AVOID MAKG HEADL FOR HIS MANY ACTS OF KDNS, WHICH CLUD VOLUNTEERG AT A HOMELS SHELTER, PAYG FOR A WOMAN'S FERTILY TREATMENTS AND TIPPG A WARS THOANDS OF DOLLARS TO HELP HER PAY FOR HER NURSG SCHOOL BTS. HE ALSO ANONYMOLY GAVE LNS OF DOLLARS TO CHARI, CLUDG CHILDLE, A UNSELG SERVICE FOR CHILDREN THE U.K. "NO ONE OUTSI THE CHARY KNEW HOW MUCH HE GAVE TO THE NATN'S MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN," SAID DAME ESTHER RANTZEN, THE CHARY’S FOUNR, SAID AN TERVIEW WH THE BRISH NEWS OUTLET {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS

TYLER PERRY OFFERS $100,000 REWARD FOR INFORMATN ON GAY MAN’S MURR

Michael said he was "persuad" not to e out as gay to his father, which kept him closeted publicly. He said to me, 'Didn't know how to tell you this, but I'm gay.

ANDREW RIDGELEY 'HAD NO IA GEE MICHAEL WAS GAY' BEFORE HE ME OUT TO HIM

If not gay, you know, bisexual, '" Ridgeley said. "In 1998, at age 34, Michael publicly me out as gay durg an exclive terview wh CNN. Was me as I sudnly thought, 'Oh my God, I’m a massive star and I'm gay.

Clost we get is one more terview segment where Michael explaed how he knew he was gay or at least bisexual by the age of 19: "I had stayed over at this guy's hoe, " said Gee.

IS WHAM GAY

And there li the Gee Michael himself been volved, 's likely that much more would have been ma of his stggl as a closeted gay superstar.

GEE MICHAEL HID BEG GAY TO PROTECT HIS REER THE US, ANDREW RIDGELEY SAYS

And aga, what about his stggle as one of the world's biggt gay pop stars at a time when beg gay wasn't even somethg teachers uld legally discs at school? Documentary has explaed why Gee Michael didn’t e out as gay durg his time the new one-off TV special tracks the rise of the group via archive terviews wh Michael and his bandmate Andrew the film, which is available to stream on Netflix, Michael n be heard talkg about his sexualy, which he kept hidn om the public until sger, who died 2016, revealed that he “really wanted to e out” shortly after Wham!

GEE {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}GRAMMY AWARD-WNG SGER GEE MICHAEL WAS ONE OF THE LEADG POP STARS OF THE 1980S AND 1990S. HIS 1987 ALBUM 'FAH' WON A GRAMMY FOR BT ALBUM OF THE {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: APR 15, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: MICHAEL PUTLAND/GETTY {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1963-2016){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO WAS GEE MICHAEL?AS A TEENAGER, GEE MICHAEL FORMED THE BAND WHAM! WH HIGH SCHOOL IEND ANDREW RIDGELEY. IN 1984, THE DUO HAD THEIR FIRST WORLDWI H WH "WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO-GO." TWO YEARS LATER, MICHAEL WENT SOLO, RELEASG A H BUT ALBUM FAH, WHICH HAS SOLD MORE THAN 25 LN PI WORLDWI. IN 1998, MICHAEL ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS GAY AFTER BEG ARRTED FOR LEWD NDUCT A PUBLIC RTROOM. MICHAEL NTUED TO PERFORM AND HIS REER HAD A REBOOT THE MID-2000S WH THE RELEASE OF HIS GREATT HS ALBUM TWENTY FIVE. HE NTUED TO TOUR AND DONATED MUCH OF HIS TIME AND WEALTH TO CHARY. MICHAEL DIED OF HEART AND LIVER DISEASE ON DECEMBER 25, 2016, HIS HOME ENGLAND AT THE AGE OF 53.EARLY LIFE AND WHAM!MICHAEL WAS BORN GES KYRIAS PANAYTOU ON JUNE 25, 1963, EAST FCHLEY, LONDON, ENGLAND. ONE OF THE LEADG ARTISTS POPULAR MIC THE 1980S AND 1990S, HE GREW UP AND AROUND LONDON, WHERE HE VELOPED HIS PASSN FOR MIC AT AN EARLY AGE. WHILE HIGH SCHOOL, MICHAEL BEIEND ANDREW RIDGELEY, WH WHOM HE SHARED A LOVE OF POP MIC AND THEY BEGAN PLAYG MIC TOGETHER. BY SOME REPORTS, MICHAEL AND RIDGELEY WERE AN UNLIKELY DUO. MICHAEL WAS PUDGY AND SHY, WHILE RIDGELEY WAS ATTRACTIVE AND OUTGOG. DROPPG OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, MICHAEL AND RIDGELEY STARTED A SHORT-LIVED SKA BAND LLED THE EXECUTIVE. THAT BAND ONLY PLAYED A FEW GIGS BEFORE FELL APART, BUT MICHAEL AND RIDGELEY SOON FOUND SUCCS. IN 1982, THEY LAND A RERDG NTRACT WH INNERVISN RERDS AND BEME KNOWN AS WHAM! THEIR FIRST ALBUM, FANTASTIC!, WAS RELEASED THE UNED KGDOM 1982, AND CLIMBED AS HIGH AS THE NO. 4 SPOT ON THE CHARTS THERE ( WAS RELEASED THE UNED STAT THE FOLLOWG YEAR). WH THEIR YOUTHFUL GOOD LOOKS, WHAM! SOON VELOPED A VOTED FOLLOWG AMONG TEENAGE GIRLS.SONGS: "WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO-GO" AND "CARELS WHISPER" WH THEIR TCHY, MOTOWN-FLUENCED SOUND, WHAM! LIVED UP TO THE TLE OF THEIR SEND ALBUM, MAKE IT BIG (1984). THEY SRED THEIR FIRST NUMBER ONE H THE UNED STAT WH "WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO-GO." THE UP-TEMPO H "EVERYTHG SHE WANTS" AND THE BALLAD "CARELS WHISPER" ALSO REACHED THE TOP OF THE U.S. CHARTS. IN 1984, MICHAEL ALSO PERFORMED WH THE CHARY BAND AID ON THE HOLIDAY SGLE "DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS?" TO BENEF ETHPIAN FAME RELIEF. MICHAEL AND RIDGELEY ALSO DONATED THE PROCEEDS OF THEIR H HOLIDAY SGLE ”LAST CHRISTMAS"/"EVERYTHG SHE WANTS" TO BAND AID’S CHARABLE EFFORTS. A YEAR LATER ON APRIL 7, 1985, WHAM! MA HISTORY AS THE FIRST WTERN POP GROUP TO PERFORM CHA. ON JULY 13, 1985, WHAM! PERFORMED TO RAISE FUNDS FOR ETHPIAN FAME AGA, AT LIVE AID, AND WAS THERE THAT MICHAEL AND {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}ELTON JOHN SANG JOHN'S CLASSIC "DON'T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME," AT WEMBLEY STADIUM LONDON.AS THE LEAD VOLIST AND MA SONGWRER, MICHAEL EMERGED AS THE STAR OF THE GROUP. IT WAS NOT LONG BEFORE HE BROKE OUT ON HIS OWN. HE LEFT AFTER THE GROUP'S 1986 RERDG, MIC OM THE EDGE OF HEAVEN. WHILE WAS NOT AS BIG OF A H AS THEIR EARLIER EFFORTS, THE ALBUM STILL HAD SEVERAL POPULAR SGL, CLUDG "WHERE DID YOUR HEART GO?" AND "I'M YOUR MAN."'FAH'AS A SOLO ARTIST, MICHAEL EARNED HIS FIRST GRAMMY AWARD FOR A DUET WH SOUL IN ARETHA FRANKL. THEIR SGLE, "I KNEW YOU WERE WAG," WON BT R&B PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WH VOL 1987. THAT SAME YEAR, HE MA AN IMPRSIVE BUT WH FAH (1987). TRYG TO SHED HIS TEEN HEARTTHROB IMAGE, HE WENT FOR AN EDGIER LOOK, OFTEN SPORTG A LEATHER JACKET AND A FEW DAYS' WORTH OF STUBBLE. MILLY, HE TOOK A FUNKIER DIRECTN AS WELL WH THE ALBUM. DRIVEN PART BY THE NUMBER ONE TLE TRACK, THE RERDG REACHED THE TOP OF THE ALBUM CHARTS. OTHER HS CLUD "FATHER FIGURE," "MONKEY," AND "ONE MORE TRY." MICHAEL ALSO URTED NTROVERSY WH ANOTHER TRACK ON THE ALBUM—"I WANT YOUR SEX." SOME RAD STATNS THE UNED STAT REFED TO PLAY BEE OF S EXPLIC NTENT WHILE OTHERS WOULD ONLY PLAY LATE AT NIGHT FOR THE SAME REASON. DPE THE CENSORSHIP, FAH WENT ON TO SELL MORE THAN 25 LN PI WORLDWI AND WON THE GRAMMY AWARD FOR ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1988. CONTUG HIS MIL EVOLUTN, MICHAEL RPORATED SOULFUL AND JAZZ ELEMENTS TO HIS SONGS ON LISTEN WHOUT PREJUDICE, VOL. 1 (1990). THE ALBUM FEATURED A FEW HS, CLUDG "PRAYG FOR TIME." FURTHER DISTANCG HIMSELF OM HIS POP IMAGE, HE CHOSE NOT TO STAR THE VIO FOR "FREEDOM 90." INSTEAD, THE VIO FEATURED SUCH MOLS AS NAOMI CAMPBELL, CHRISTY TURLGTON AND CDY CRAWFORD.SOLO CAREERWHILE LISTEN WHOUT PREJUDICE, VOL. 1 RECEIVED SOME POSIVE REVIEWS, THE ALBUM ONLY SOLD ABOUT 1 LN PI. MICHAEL BEME VOLVED A LEGAL BATTLE WH HIS RERDG PANY SONY. FEELG THAT THEY HAD FAILED TO PROPERLY PROMOTE THE RERD, HE WANTED TO END HIS RERDG NTRACT. THE NFLICT DRAGGED ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS, DURG WHICH TIME MICHAEL RERD ONLY A FEW SGL. IN 1991, MICHAEL REPRISED "DON'T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME," HIS DUET WH ELTON JOHN, FOR CHARY. IT BEME A NO. 1 H, WH THE PROCEEDS GOG TO LONDON LIGHTHOE, AN AIDS HOSPICE, AND THE RABOW TST CHILDREN'S CHARY. LATER THAT YEAR, MICHAEL H THE CHARTS WH "TOO FUNKY," A TRACK FEATURED ON RED HOT AND DANCE, AN AIDS CHARY ALBUM. FALLY EE OM HIS NTRACT WH SONY, MICHAEL RELEASED THE ALBUM OLR 1996. TWO TRACKS, "J TO A CHILD" AND "FASTLOVE," BROKE TO THE TOP 10 THE UNED STAT AS DID THE ALBUM. STILL, THE SAL FOR THE RERDG PALED PARISON TO HIS EARLIER EFFORTS WH SOME ATTRIBUTG THIS CLE TO MICHAEL'S TIME AWAY OM THE POP MIC SCENE. MICHAEL DID W SEVERAL ACLAS FOR HIS WORK, HOWEVER, TAKG HOME THE AWARD FOR BT BRISH MALE AT THE BRIT AWARDS AND THE MTV EUROPE AWARDS THAT YEAR.PERSONAL LIFE AND CONTROVERSYIN 1998, MICHAEL MA HEADL, THOUGH THIS TIME NOT FOR HIS MIC. HE WAS ARRTED FOR LEWD NDUCT A MEN'S ROOM AT A PUBLIC PARK LOS ANGEL, CALIFORNIA. AFTER THE CINT, MICHAEL MA A TELEVISN APPEARANCE WHICH HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HE WAS HOMOSEXUAL. THERE HAD BEEN SOME SPECULATN ABOUT HIS SEXUAL ORIENTATN OVER THE YEARS, BUT THIS WAS HIS FIRST PUBLIC STATEMENT ON THE MATTER. HIS NEXT MIL EFFORT WAS A LLECTN OF VERS, SONGS OM THE LAST CENTURY (1999). WHILE RECEIVED SOME POSIVE REVIEWS, ALBUM SAL LAGGED AND WAS HIS LOWT CHARTG ALBUM THE UNED KGDOM. MICHAEL RERD SEVERAL SGL OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, CLUDG A 2000 DUET WH WHNEY HOTON ON THE SONG "IF I TOLD YOU THAT." MICHAEL RELEASED HIS FOURTH SOLO ALBUM, PATIENCE, 2004. INSTEAD OF THE POP CHARTS, HE FOUND SUCCS ON THE DANCE CHARTS. "FLAWLS" AND "AMAZG" BOTH SRED WELL WH DANCE MIC FANS. AFTER THIS RERD, MICHAEL MA MENTS ABOUT GIVG UP THE MIC BS, BUT HIS MORED RETIREMENT WOULD PROVE TO BE SHORT LIVED. A DIFFERENT STORY, A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT MICHAEL'S LIFE AND REER, WAS RELEASED 2005. IN FEBARY 2006, MICHAEL HAD ANOTHER ENUNTER WH THE LAW AND WAS ARRTED ON SPICN OF ILLEGAL DGS LONDON. ACRDG TO A REPORT ROLLG STONE MAGAZE, THE SGER SAID A STATEMENT THAT "'S MY OWN STUPID FLT, AS UAL." A FEW MONTHS LATER, MICHAEL ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS GOG ON TOUR FOR THE FIRST TIME 15 YEARS. HE ALSO RELEASED A LLECTN OF HIS SONGS, ENTLED TWENTY FIVE, THE UNED KGDOM. THE WORK, WHICH CLUD SOME NEW MATERIAL, WAS A CELEBRATN OF MICHAEL'S 25 YEARS MIC.COMEBACKRURRECTG HIS REER THE UNED STAT 2008, MICHAEL MA SEVERAL APPEARANC, RELEASED TWENTY FIVE STATI AND GUT-STARRED ON THE TELEVISN SERI ELI STONE AS A MIL GUARDIAN ANGEL OF SORTS. THE SHOW ALSO FEATURED SOME OF HIS CLASSIC HS. HE WENT ON TO PERFORM ON THE SERI FALE OF THE POPULAR MIL PETN SHOW AMERIN IDOL BEFORE EMBARKG ON A NATNAL TOUR THE SUMMER OF 2008. IN APRIL 2011, MICHAEL RELEASED A VER OF STEVIE WONR'S 1972 SONG, "YOU AND I," AS A GIFT TO PRCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON PRR TO THE UPLE'S WEDDG. IN AUGT OF THAT YEAR, THE SGER-SONGWRER BEGAN PERFORMG AS PART OF HIS SYMPHONI TOUR, WHICH END EARLY AFTER MICHAEL FELL ILL WH PNMONIA A FEW MONTHS TO THE SERI. THE FOLLOWG YEAR, MICHAEL PERFORMED "FREEDOM! 90" AND "WHE LIGHT" AT THE CLOSG CEREMONY OF THE 2012 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAM, HELD LONDON. IN MAY 2013, A 49-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL WAS AIRLIFTED TO A MEDIL FACILY LONDON, ENGLAND, AFTER BEG VOLVED AN ACCINT ON THE M1 MOTORWAY NEAR ST. ALBANS. MICHAEL HAD REPORTEDLY BEEN FOUND AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCINT BY PARAMEDICS AND HAD NOT BEEN SERLY JURED. IN HIS PERSONAL LIFE, MICHAEL WAS A 13-YEAR RELATNSHIP WH KENNY GOSS THAT END 2009. MICHAEL BEGAN A RELATNSHIP WH CELEBRY HAIR STYLIST FADI FAWAZ THAT YEAR UNTIL THE POP IN'S UNTIMELY ATH 2016. AT THE TIME OF HIS ATH, MICHAEL WAS WORKG ON FREEDOM, A SEND DOCUMENTARY ABOUT HIS LIFE, WHICH WAS RELEASED 2017.DEATHMICHAEL DIED ON DECEMBER 25, 2016, AT THE AGE OF 53. AN TOPSY LATER REVEALED THAT THE POP STAR HAD DIED OM NATURAL RELATED TO HEART AND LIVER DISEASE. MICHAEL'S PARTNER FAWAZ FOUND HIM AD AT HIS HOME OXFORDSHIRE ON CHRISTMAS MORNG."IT IS WH GREAT SADNS THAT WE N NFIRM OUR BELOVED SON, BROTHER AND IEND GEE PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY AT HOME OVER THE CHRISTMAS PERD," READ A STATEMENT BY HIS PUBLICIST. FOLLOWG HIS ATH, MANY CHARI AND DIVIDUALS POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT MICHAEL'S GENERO PHILANTHROPIC ACTS AND HOW HE OFTEN DONATED HIS TIME AND MUCH OF HIS WEALTH ANONYMOLY. THE POP STAR AVOID MAKG HEADL FOR HIS MANY ACTS OF KDNS, WHICH CLUD VOLUNTEERG AT A HOMELS SHELTER, PAYG FOR A WOMAN'S FERTILY TREATMENTS AND TIPPG A WARS THOANDS OF DOLLARS TO HELP HER PAY FOR HER NURSG SCHOOL BTS. HE ALSO ANONYMOLY GAVE LNS OF DOLLARS TO CHARI, CLUDG CHILDLE, A UNSELG SERVICE FOR CHILDREN THE U.K. "NO ONE OUTSI THE CHARY KNEW HOW MUCH HE GAVE TO THE NATN'S MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN," SAID DAME ESTHER RANTZEN, THE CHARY’S FOUNR, SAID AN TERVIEW WH THE BRISH NEWS OUTLET {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS

“He said to me, ‘Didn't know how to tell you this but I’m gay – if not gay, you know, bisexual, ’’ Ridgeley said.