The boyfriend of late pop star George Michael has revealed that he discovered the singer’s body early on Christmas morning, after Michael had died alone in his Oxfordshire home.
Fadi Fawaz, a celebrity hairdresser who had been in a relationship with Michael since 2011, tells The Telegraph that he and the former Wham! singer had plans for the Christmas holidays.
“We were supposed to be going for Christmas lunch,” Fawaz says. “I went round there to wake him up and he was just gone, lying peacefully in bed. We don’t know what happened yet. Everything had been very complicated recently, but George was looking forward to Christmas, and so was I.
“Now everything is ruined,” he adds. “I want people to remember him the way he was – he was a beautiful person.”
Fawaz has also tweeted about Michael’s death, saying, “ITs a xmas i will never forget finding your partner dead peacefully in bed first thing in the morning.. I will never stop missing you xx”
Michael’s death at the age of 53 was announced publicly over the weekend, with the singer’s publicist saying he “passed away peacefully at home”.
Since then, Michael’s manager has revealed the musician’s cause of death was heart failure, while tributes have been flowing in from around the world.
An unnamed source close to Michael has also told The Telegraph that the singer had been treated in hospital for a heroin overdose in the past year.
“He’s been rushed to A&E on several occasions,” the source says. “He used heroin. I think it’s amazing he’s lasted as long as he has.”
Claims of a heroin addiction have been denied by Michael’s lawyers, and police have said the circumstances surrounding his death are “unexplained but not suspicious”.
Since Michael’s death, reports have also emerged about his philanthropy and charitable work. Here are just a few incredible examples:
A woman on 'Deal Or No Deal' told us she needed £15k for IVF treatment. George Michael secretly phoned the next day and gave her the £15k.
— Richard Osman (@richardosman) December 26, 2016
https://twitter.com/EmilyneMondo/status/813319244242817025
There are lots of stories about #GeorgeMichael 's legendary generosity emerging today. When I swam the channel he gave @sportrelief £50,000.
— David Walliams HQ (@davidwalliams) December 26, 2016
In his last Facebook post, George Michael said he was busy completing a documentary called Freedom, which is due for release in March 2017. View that post alongside Fawaz’s tweet about his partner’s death, below.
UPDATE: George Michael’s family has denied reports of a “suspicious” death, and have thanked fans for their “incredible” support.
Watch: Wham! – ‘Last Christmas’
ITs a xmas i will never forget finding your partner dead peacefully in bed first thing in the morning.. I will never stop missing you xx
— Fadi Fawaz (@fadifawaz) December 26, 2016
