Boy George to cover funeral expenses for Pete Burns’ family
Boy George has reportedly offered to help Pete Burns’ family and pay for the cost of the former singer’s funeral.
The singer’s ex wife, Lynne Corlett, and husband Michael Simpson were left with the cost but Boy George has stepped up to help Burns’ loved ones.
The Dead Or Alive singer died of cardiac arrest age 57 early last week.
When his death was announced, Boy George wrote on Twitter: “He was one of our great true eccentrics and such a big part of my life!”
A source told the Sun that Boy George was planning to help with funeral costs.
They said: “It is very sad, but Pete died absolutely penniless and there is no money for a funeral. At one point Lynne and Michael were discussing with Pete’s friends about setting up a crowdfunding page to pay for it.
“But people were not happy about that as they thought it would be undignified for Pete.
“When George got wind of this, he offered to pay for the whole thing straight away. He thinks Lynne and Michael have enough on their plates and wanted to take this concern away from them.
“It is strangely fitting that one Eighties legend should help out another in this way,” they added.
Formerly married to hairdresser Lynne Corlett, in 2006 Burns announced his engagement to partner Michael Simpson.
The pair split 10 months afterwards, with Burns insisting that he would return to dating women, claiming “Gay relationships are a commercial break, not a whole movie.”
Of his appearance, he explained in 2007: “I have never had a reason to separate gender. I’ve had two very powerful people in my life, my ex-wife Lynn, and my husband Michael, and that’s it.
“Everyone’s in drag of some sorts, I don’t give a fuck about gender and drag. I’m not trying to be a girl by putting on a dress – gender is separated by fabric.
“I was brought up with an incredible amount of freedom and creativity. Society has put certain constraints on things.”
