George Michael’s close friend Kirsty Young says he was ‘optimistic’ in last interview
George Michael and fellow Wham! band member Andrew Ridgeley (Hulton Archive/Getty)
George Michael was feeling “optimistic” about life before his death, according to the woman who did his final interview.
The Wham! legend was filming a programme for Channel 4 in the UK when he died suddenly on Christmas Day 2016.
He finished compiling the documentary less than 36 hours before he died.
Desert Island Discs broadcaster Kirsty Young interviewed George for the documentary in what would turn out to be his last ever interview.
Speaking to the Mirror, she said: “He was optimistic and in the moment. He said to me that he felt the thing that he would do next would be his best thing ever.
“When I spoke to George, the future was in front of him.
“There was something on the horizon. He was talking about something new.
“George hinted about new projects, but refused to give details.”
In the voiceover for the programme he said he felt “picked on my god” during his life.
Freedom, directed by George and his friend David Austin, chronicled the making of the 1990 album Listen Without Prejudice and the subsequent legal battle with his record label.
In a harrowing twist, the story of his life, released posthumously late last year, is narrated by George himself.
He recalls the death of his first love, Brazilian Anselmo Feleppa, who died of an AIDS related illness in 1993.
(Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
“It was the most frightening time of my life,” George says in the documentary.
“I was terrified of losing him. He was my saviour. Finding a companion at that time in my life changed me.”
He later says: “Then when my mum got cancer, I felt so bloody picked on by God.
“I took it very badly, very badly indeed. I’ve never felt that kind of depression.”
The pair met in a hotel lobby when they fell in love almost immediately.
George Michael (Getty)
The Mirror says of the programme: “George speaks very movingly about Anselmo being the first love of his life and how important he was in his life.
“It is very emotional and he clearly never forgot him and left a huge impression on George.”
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(Getty)
The first trailer for the show, released last week, hears George describe how he was “terribly lonely” during the height of his stardom.
The film includes contributions from a long list of his friends and associates, including his neighbour Kate Moss.
