George Michael has died at the age of 53, his publicist has confirmed.
The music icon “passed away peacefully at home” in Goring, Oxfordshire at 1.42pm on Christmas Day (UK time).
The singer, who first skyrocketed to fame as a member of the duo Wham!, gained fans around the globe and sold more than 100 million albums throughout a music career that spanned almost four decades.
“It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period,” the star’s publicist said in a statement.
“The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further comment at this stage.”
George – real name Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou – has previously battled alcohol and drug addiction. In 2011, he suffered a severe bout of pneumonia that forced him to cancel a series of planned concerts.
After being treated in a Vienna hospital, he appeared outside his London home and revealed it had been “touch and go” whether he lived.
The ‘Freedom’ singer had been set to release a documentary next year to accompany the reissue of his 1990 album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. The film was set to feature Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Mary J. Blige, Tony Bennett and more, as well as the original supermodels who starred in his iconic music video for the single ‘Freedom ‘90’.
