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Celebrities, fans react with shock and grief to news of George Michael's death

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Just when it seemed that 2016 was done with felling some of the world's most revered pop culture icons, it's taken away George Michael, at the age of 53, on Christmas Day of all days. 

Social media has flooded with tributes from celebrity friends and fans alike who will no doubt be listening to Wham's festive season hit Last Christmas with new sadness today.

In a statement released Monday morning, his publicist wrote, "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.

"The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further comment at this stage."

According to UK's AP, his manager Michael Lippman revealed that the star died from heart failure at his home in Gorring, England. 

Born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, the founder of iconic group Wham! sold over 80 million records worldwide and was nominated for eight Grammy Awards (with two received), winning the hearts of many over nearly four decades of songwriting and performance. 

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Close friend Elton John led the tributes by A-listers, who expressed their deep shock and grief on social media. 

"I have lost a beloved friend - the kindest, most generous soul and a brilliant artist," he wrote in an Instagram post. 

Referring to Michael as "YOG", a nickname for "Yours Only George," former Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley said he was "heartbroken at the loss of my beloved friend".

The outpouring of grief has come from friends, collaborators and celebrities, with the strong reaction to Michael's prolific effect on others in the industry and beyond. 

British comedian Ricky Gervais simply posted "unbelievable," a sentiment held by most who have expressed the loss of the star was "too young, too soon."

 

Farewell My Friend! = Another Great Artist leaves us. Can 2016 F--- Off NOW?

A video posted by Madonna (@madonna) on

As a strong advocate for LGBT rights, many in the community have expressed their gratitude towards Michael's abilities to change perspectives on sexuality through his work, including transgender actress Laverne Cox.

DJ Mark Ronson said that Michael's work was never "materialised," a key factor that differentiated him from many artists emerging in today's industry.

 

i bought Listen Without Prejudice the day it came out, which happened to be my 15th birthday. even when i put it on now, hearing the opening chords of “praying for time”—the opening tune, i can picture the exact shade of yellow paint that covered my teenage bedroom. it all comes back to me in pure technicolour. that’s how much of a mark that song left on me. i had never heard a musical language quite like that before. later, when i discovered the 70’s masterworks of Stevie Wonder, i started to understood where George got it from. but at that point, to my naive musical knowledge, it blew the doors open. it prepared me for Stevie in a way. later on, as a DJ in hip-hop clubs in New York City in the late 90’s, George/Wham’s “Everything She Wants” was one of maybe three or four tunes by white artists that you could follow MJ, Frankie Beverly or Roy Ayers with. the keyboard lick from “Father Figure” comprised the bones for the Jungle Bros.’ classic, underground club destroyer “J Beez Comin’ Through”. So while “Faith” and the like made George a global phenom, another side of his genius as singer, writer, producer and arranger made him a bonafide giant of soul music. as did most soul afficionados, George had a huge affinity for the music of Amy Winehouse. i imagine  he felt more than a little kindred spiritness to some of the personal stuff too. Anyway, as a result of my ties to Amy, he called me once. i was on holiday exactly around this time 9 years ago. he told me he had a few soulful tunes left off of Faith that he never got to finish and asked if i would be interested in working on them. i remember one of the songs was absolutely flooring, as good as any pop/soul ballad of the era. i said of course i would be interested—all the while in complete disbelief that i was actually on the phone with GEORGE MICHAEL. i don’t know why, for some reason it never materialized. i hope one day i might get to, but i really dreamed of being in the room with him while i did. this is a tough day in a brutal year. but i'm so grateful for what he left us xxx

A photo posted by Mark Ronson (@iammarkronson) on

Actress Gwendoline Christie said that Michael's fight to not conform to the "polite, desexualised notion of gay" when he "came-out" was a testament to the groundbreaking individual he was, changing ideas and perspectives with his actions.

Michael was the first celebrity to join James Corden for Carpool Karaoke, which has now become a popular fixture in the talk show host's show. He and a host of other celebrities have also paid tribute to the star. 

Michael's battle with pneumonia 2011 left him with psychological trauma, cancelling his Australian tour in 2012 due to "anxiety".

"Since last year's illness I have tried in vain to work my way through the trauma that the doctors who saved my life warned me I would experience," he wrote in a statement on his website.

However his worked continued to make waves in the contemporary music industry, noted with the re-release of the music video for Freedom! with the next generation of supermodels Adriana Lima, Joan Smalls, Taylor Hill and Irina Shayk taking the places of Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, and Naomi Campbell.

 

I am beyond heartbroken and devastated by another tragic loss. R.I.P. dearest Georgy. #GeorgeMichael #ripgeorgemichael

A photo posted by Linda Evangelista (@lindaevangelista) on

 

Feeling very honored to have been part of #GeorgeMichael's #Freedom90 video. His bravery inspired all of us. RIP George 💔

A video posted by Cindy Crawford (@cindycrawford) on

It is understood that Michael had recently rekindled his relationship with partner of 13-years (the pair split in 2009), Texan art dealer Kenny Goss, and had been working on a comeback record with producer UK producer Naughty Boy, who helped launch the career of Sam Smith.

A movie with the working title Freedom: George Michael was to be narrated by Michael, featuring Mark Ronson, Tony Bennett, James Corden and Mary J Blige; however there has been no word yet on whether the documentary would be finished or not.

And as 2016 comes to a close, many have said that surely not another great can be taken in the coming days.