George Michael’s family write emotional letter to fans in memory of ‘Yog’
George Michael and fellow Wham! band member Andrew Ridgeley (Hulton Archive/Getty)
George Michael’s family have shared a never before seen childhood photo of their beloved ‘Yog’, alongside a letter to fans.
The Wham! star died suddenly on Christmas Day 2016 of natural causes.
Michael’s sisters Melanie and Yioda and their dad Jack said issued a full-length letter to fans revealing their struggles from the past year.
“This Christmas will be hard without him, but we know that we are not alone in our mourning the anniversary of his loss,” they said in a statement.
“Christmas is not always easy, life isn’t perfect and families are complicated.
“So if you can, in his memory this year, take a moment and a deep breath and say those ‘I love yous’ out loud.”
British pop star George Michael (L)
Thousands of fans have paid tribute in the last week by downloading his festive anthem, Last Christmas, in a bid to make it number one.
But the late star’s family said the song has been tough for them to hear during the festive season.
Hearing Last Christmas and December Song in shops had been difficult on the first Christmas since Michael died.
(Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
George Michael’s family letter in full
Hi Everyone,
Can’t believe it is the end of the year, where has it gone…?!
We want to thank you firstly for making Listen Without Predjudice Number One again, we were happy, and sad all at the same time…He’d have absolutely LOVED it!!
Can’t you just see that beaming smile and hear him say ‘Thank you my Lovelies’?
He was so happy to be giving you MTV Unplugged which he knew you had wanted… he really loved that magical night and it showed didn’t it, in his stunning, joyous performance…
This year has been a series of new and tough challenges for those of us close and loyal to Yog, not least of which was steeling ourselves this month, to hear ‘Last Christmas’ and ‘December Song’ streaming out of shops, cars, and radios, as it has done for decades, knowing he’s no longer here with us, missing him.
This Christmas will be hard without him, but we know that we are not alone in our mourning the anniversary of his loss, and that the sadness of our wider family, and true friends, is shared by many of you.
We are at ‘that age’ and realise that this year many of you will have had difficult losses too.
Yog, who loved Christmas, and always hoped it would snow… would want each of you that admired and loved him, (yes—he knows you did!!) to take a moment, raise a glass, enjoy his music and think of him fondly, making sure to enjoy your time with, and appreciate your family and friends.
As we all know Christmas is not always easy, life isn’t perfect, and families are complicated…
Yog shared his music with all of us, and many of you connected deeply with his words, yet in life, many hold their own important words and feelings inside, as so often they are the hardest to say out loud.
So if you can, in his memory this year, take a moment and a deep breath and say those ‘I Love You’s’ out loud. We all think there is time, don’t we? – but, just maybe, it’s later than you think…
Have a good Christmas everyone…and as our darling Yog would say…
“Take Care”
Melanie, Yioda, Jack & David — looking up Yog, Lesley, Anselmo, Hippy, Mo and Meg — smiling down
(Getty)
Since his sudden death, the outside of the mansion has become a shrine to the late singer.
The path outside of his house has been filled with thousands of gifts and tributes to George Michael from people from around the world.
But neighbours of have hit out at the shrine.
(Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
The shrine has attracted the attention of the Highgate Conservation Area advisory committee, a local group that aims to “preserve and enhance the character of the area.
Chair of the group Susan Rose told the Daily Star: “One wonders what George Michael would think of it all outside the beautiful home that he looked after so well, and right where he erected a wonderful Christmas tree every year.”
(Getty)
She continued: “I think a statue would be great. A lot of people in Highgate would like a permanent memorial rather than mounds of dead flowers.”
A similar shrine was erected outside of Michael’s home in Oxfordshire at the time of his death.
Early reports speculated that Michael’s death was substance-related, but the death was later confirmed to be by natural causes.
