bandmate Andrew Ridgeley is sharing his sorrow over the news of his friend's death with the world."Heartbroken at the loss of my beloved friend Yog," Ridgeley tweeted Christmas night. Me, his loved ones, his friends, the world of music, the world at large. A xx https://t.co/Ol GTm4D9O6— Andrew Ridgeley (@ajridgeley) December 26, 2016Michael, 53, was found dead earlier Sunday.
"It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period," read a statement sent to USA TODAY by Michael's London-based publicist, Connie Filippello.
On Sunday night, Bananarama's Sara Dallin tweeted her remembrance of Michael as well.
Heartbroken at the loss of one of my oldest friends. Rest in Peace George, I'll miss you💔 pic.twitter.com/Hk Jpvap LKy— Sara Dallin (@Sara Bananarama) December 26, 2016He prefers recreational activities, including cycling, and is seen in public when working on causes such as clean water and the Dallaglio Foundation, a London-based organization which helps teenagers who aren’t in mainstream education get additional schooling, training or jobs through a program based on the values of rugby.
Fadi took to his Twitter account on Monday (December 26) to pay tribute to George and explain how he was the one to discover the dead body.
“ITs a xmas i will never forget finding your partner dead peacefully in bed first thing in the morning.. George was previously in a long-term relationship with partner Kenny Goss until 2011 and it is believed that he and Fadi started dating in 2012.
RIP GM xx pic.twitter.com/Gjcp55Chei— Andrew Ridgeley (@ajridgeley) December 26, 2016Ridgeley, who has largely maintained a low profile since Wham!
disbanded, is married to a member of the 1980s group Bananarama, Keren Woodward.
I will never stop missing you xx,” he tweeted on Monday, December 26.Finding your partner dead peacefully in bed first thing in the morning ...I will never stop missing you."Fawaz told the Daily Telegraph the couple had planned to go out for lunch on Christmas. "I want people to remember him the way he was — he was a beautiful person."Michael began dating Texas-born art dealer Kenny Goss in 1996 and, according to People, once planned to marry him.The two were best friends -- they grew up together in Cyprus, Greece -- until a falling out in the late 1990s, after which Kennedy saw much less of his godfather. On Sunday, Kennedy also shared a pic of his father with "Yog," Michael's nickname.