A NEW Documentary on the late great pop star George Michael has been praised for exposing the scandalous homophobic attitudes of the British press in the eighties and nineties and how the pop star stood up to the press.
George Michael: Outed – sees Channel 4 tell the tabloid sensation of former Wham! front man after he was arrested for a lewd act in a Los Angeles public toilet.
It’s the story of how his response to a potentially career-crushing event changed history and how the British press targeted gay people and shamefully smeared them over the AIDS epidemic and sees an interview with It’s A Sin star Olly Alexander.
George Michael was one of the most beloved and influential pop stars of the 1980s and 90s, whose music touched the lives of millions of people around the world. In 1998, his career was rocked when he was outed as gay after cruising in a Los Angeles public restroom.
This was a shocking event at the time, as it was something that was not openly discussed in the mainstream media.
The news of George Michael’s sexuality was first reported by the UK newspaper The Sun with its classic headline “Zip Me Up Before You Go Go” and was then picked up by the worlds media.
Channel 4’s two part documentary features interviews with various figures in the music industry. The documentary also included an interview with George Michael himself, in which he confirmed that he was indeed gay.
While the news of his sexuality was met with shock and surprise from some, there was also a great deal of support for him from the LGBT community and his fans around the world.
This support was seen in the outpouring of love for George Michael at the time, and continues to be seen today, more than 20 years later.
George Michael’s decision to come out was seen as a brave and courageous act, and it was a major step forward in terms of LGBT acceptance in society. His legacy as an artist and LGBT icon lives on today, and his music continues to inspire, move and touch millions of people around the world.
TAP HERE TO WATCH ON ALL4
George Michael: Outed is available to stream now on All4 – the second episode aired on Tuesday 7th March 2023 at 9pm on Channel 4.
