George Michael has opened up about his struggles during the height of Wham!’s success in an upcoming Netflix documentary, “Wham!” The late singer revealed that the turning point for the band was not because of any internal conflicts but because he had realized he was gay. Michael admitted that the depression he experienced was due to the fact that he felt trapped and boxed in by his own sexuality.
The documentary tells the story of Michael and his childhood friend, Andrew Ridgeley, who bonded over their shared love of music. The two formed the band Wham! at the age of 20 and went on to achieve global success, becoming the first Western pop act to play in China and having numerous number one hits. The band played their last gig at Wembley Stadium in June 1986.
Michael revealed that he had realized he was gay or at least bisexual at the age of 19. He recounted an experience where he stayed the night at a friend’s house and realized he wanted to be close to him in a way he had never experienced before. Michael confided in Ridgeley, who was supportive and advised him to keep his sexuality a secret from his family, especially his father, a tough Greek Cypriot immigrant.
As Wham!’s success continued to grow, Michael felt increasingly trapped. He admitted that he was too young and immature to realize the sacrifices he was making for his career. He had a little voice inside him that kept asking, “What am I going to do?” Michael knew that he was on the wrong road if he wanted happiness, and he should not have been trying to catch up with Michael Jackson or Madonna.
Michael went on to have a successful solo career after Wham! and finally came out to his parents in an emotional four-page letter after the death of his true love, Brazilian dress designer and stylist Anselmo Feleppa, who died of AIDS in 1993. Michael’s mother was not surprised by the revelation, but his father did not take the news well.
The Grammy winner later developed a serious drug problem and repeatedly fell for porn stars. He died on Christmas Day in 2016 at the age of 53 from liver disease and heart failure.
The Wham! documentary is set to begin streaming on Netflix on July 5th. It offers an intimate look into the struggles and sacrifices Michael made in his personal life while achieving global success with Wham!. The documentary shows how his sexuality and personal life affected his music. It’s a fascinating portrait of one of the most talented musicians of our time and a reminder that everyone has their own battles to fight.
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