Thought For The Day (June 28th 1986): George Michael

Rumour has it that the News Of The World has a George Michael scandal story that they’re not going to run until his crown starts to slip.

People do keep telling me there’s a story, but I can’t think what it would be. The News Of The World’s angle would have to be, if it’s big enough that they’re waiting, some kind of gay story. Either that or a pregnant girl. It’s unnerving to think that they’re only waiting because they think the public likes me enough at the moment. Hopefully they’ve got a long wait, and even then I’ll sue the arse off them, ha ha!

Guardian Music mark the return of the Yog by reprinting a 1986 NME interview.

Lots of today's papers have felched quotes from last night's BBC Radio 2 programme, Up Close With George Michael, eg...

For some strange reason, my gay life didn't get easier when I came out. Quite the opposite happened, really. The press seemed to take some delight that I previously had a 'straight audience,' and set about trying to destroy that. And I think some men were frustrated that their girlfriends wouldn't let go of the idea that George Michael just hadn't found the 'right girl'. Which is still what a lot of my extended family still think!

[On not judging celebrities who haven't come out] Because it's about family. In the years when HIV was a killer, any parent of an openly gay person was terrified. I knew my mother well enough that she would spend everyday praying that I didn't come across that virus. She'd have worried like that.

Getting banged up on nonce wing really turned me round and no mistake, guv. 

etc etc.

You can hear the first part on iPlayer here.

PS George is narrowly ahead of Kylie Minogue in the race for number one album.
Excitingness!
Who will buy more?
Middle-aged George-loving straight women?
Or middle-aged Kylie-loving gay men?