George Michael’s childhood friend Andros Georgiou insists the singer would still be alive today if his first major love Anselmo Feleppa had not died of AIDS.
Wham! Former member singer George died in the early hours of the morning on Christmas Day in 2016 at the age of 53 and Andros, who George was so close with that he called him his unofficial ‘cousin’, says things would be different today if Brazilian designer Anselmo had remained in his life.
Andros told the Mirror: ‘George was the love of his life and if he hadn’t died I think George would still be here.
First love: George Michael’s childhood friend Andros Georgiou insists the singer would still be alive today if his first major love Anselmo Feleppa had not died of AIDS
‘After Anselmo, he didn’t find real love, he had a lot of sex and met lots of people but he never found what he had with Anselmo.
“I was amazed at how happy they were. He was probably quite distraught after Anselmo’s death, it really hit him.
George’s lifeless body was found by his then-partner Fadi Fawaz in bed at George’s Goring-on-Thames home after he went to meet him before going out for Christmas lunch.
Wham! George, a former member of Wham!, died on Christmas Day 2016 at 53 years old. George and Andros are pictured in this Facebook photo in 2016.
The death was initially recorded as unexplained, with a coroner later ruling that George died of natural causes from dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver.
He recalled some of the hedonistic times the pair spent together, saying they lived on ecstasy and champagne during a trip to St Barts in 1992, adding he and George often met male models for one night stands in the clubs of London and New York.
George’s friend stated that George was sometimes attracted to women. In his early years, he was bisexual. I can’t name her but he slept with the top model in the world.’
Sad story: Andros told the Mirror : ‘George was the love of his life and if he hadn’t died I think George would still be here’ (George pictured with Anselmo before his 1993 death)
Gone too soon: Brazilian fashion designer Anselmo Feleppa died in March 1993 after battling AIDS
Andros recently visited George’s grave after a plaque was finally put in place with his name engraved at Highgate Cemetery in North London.
George’s family waited patiently for his name to be engraved on his marble tombstone.
Andros, music producer and musician said that his visit was’very personal because it made him feel so happy. [the death]He believes the star is real, but can be remembered properly.
Music legend: George, real name Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, rose to fame with Wham! The 1980s
He recently appeared on London Calling Radio FM to pay tribute to the musician, playing his hits, including Wham’s 1984 hit Last Christmas, which is played by fans every festive season.
He described December, however, as a “write-off”, admitting that he still struggles with the song everytime he hears it.
George, real name Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, rose to fame with Wham! In the 1980s.
After his solo debut, he sold more than 100,000,000 albums around the world. The star’s popularity continued after his death.
George’s music companies made a total of £8million in 2019, four times as much as the year he died.
After going solo, George Andros sold more than 100,000,000 albums around the world. The star’s popularity continued after his death.