George Michael Speaks about the Hate Towards Him (Expressen, 2007)

English translation of the George Michael interview that appeared in the Swedish newspaper Expressen “George Michaels ord om hatet mot honom” published in 2007.

George Michael’s life and career were riddled with scandals and big headlines.

In an exclusive interview with Expressen’s reporter Robert Börjesson in 2007, the artist talked about love, about the scandals and the hate. And how he survived all the big crises in his life.

“I never felt hate. I’d rather have all the hate in the world directed at me, which it sometimes feels like, than to even for just one day feel hate towards another human being,” he said in the interview.

George Michael welcomed the Expressen reporter Robert Börjesson into his home in London in 2007. He was able to meet the superstar for an exclusive interview in his private home, a four-storey house, overlooking the city of London with a two level garden and a pool.

Together with the star was also his partner Kenny Goss, their two golden Labradors and Geri Halliwell from Spice Girls with her daughter Bluebell Madonna.

In the interview he talks about the path to success and how it was lined with adversity and scandals and how it affected him.

Even though he was one of the biggest stars, not just in England but in the world he felt like he was hated.

“I’m a person who likes people, who always find it easy to get along. It’s strange that so many people hate me,” said George Michael in this interview and continued:                                                                                

“I think many heterosexual men of my generation, especially in the newsletter industry, are bothered. I have no children, have lots of money, right? I can speak my mind about politics without getting fired. I can speak my mind about my sexuality. I have what they regard as sex outside of marriage, so sex, drugs and rock’n’roll is my thing.”

The star also talks about the incentive to continue to fight when his life was at its most turbulent, due to drugs and the sex scandals, inflated by the media.

“I continued to fight because it was of great importance that gay youth shouldn’t see it as the end of my career,” he said.

But in spite of his self confidence, George Michael also described how he got hurt and felt sad.

“I get sad. But only brief moments. Then I look at my adorable partner. And adorable house. And my adorable dogs. And then I just feel so happy that I myself never hated anyone. I never felt hate. I’d rather have all the hate in the world directed at me, which it sometimes feels like, than to even for just one day feel hate towards another human being,” he said.

Had a difficult childhood

The artist also talked about how his difficult childhood influenced him during the early career with the pop group Wham! and that he wasn’t emotionally prepared for the success as an 18-year old.

One of the most difficult times in George Michael’s life was when he lost his partner Anselmo Feleppa, who died from a brain hemorrhage in 1993.

“I’ve had therapy since Anselmo, my first partner who died. It helped me tremendously. Still does to a large degree,” he said in the interview.

Mourned by Geri Halliwell

George Michael was found dead in his home on Christmas Day 2016. One of those grieving the star is Geri Halliwell. On Instagram she writes: “So, so sad. RIP George, a dear friend, the kindest, most generous and talented person. My thoughts are with his family.”