The RIP thread...

I always liked this affectionate interviewer's joke:

Perhaps this is the strangest thing about Michael – the disjunction between what he regards as public and private. For many years, he was so embarrassed about his sexuality that his private self was hermetically sealed. He has said it took him so long to come out because he didn't want to upset his mother. But now, having been outed, or having outed himself, in such an uncompromising manner, it's as if nothing can embarrass him any more. This is me – like it or lump it. His private self has become wholly public. You sense he would regard it as an act of hypocrisy not to answer questions about drugs or sex. Meanwhile, his public self – most obviously his music – has become private; virtually a no-go area. To ask too much about the music becomes an act of intrusion, voyeurism even.

We retreat to the safe ground of sex, drugs, gossip and conspiracy theories.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/dec/05/george-michael-interview-music-sex-drugs

This is also quite sweet, as a follow-up:

https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2016/dec/26/george-michael-press-encounters-publicist-tabloids