George Michael’s secret acts of extraordinary generosity revealed after his death – they’re bringing fans to tears
Fans of singer and 80s pop icon George Michael woke to the devastating news this morning that he has died over the Christmas period – and are now sharing his extraordinary stories.
The star’s publicist made a statement at 11pm on Christmas Day, revealing that he had passed away “peacefully at home” aged just 53.
Tributes immediately began to pour in from celebrities and fans around the world, but with them came amazing memories of George from across his lifetime.
It’s been revealed that George Michael was an incredible and humble philanthropist behind his stage persona.
Here are just some of the tales emerging about the superstar today – plus some we already knew.
1. Anonymously donated £15k for a woman’s IVF treatment
Among them was the incredible tale from Pointless presenter Richard Osman, that the star had anonymously donated £15,000 to a woman who couldn’t afford IVF.
George is being celebrated for his amazing acts of kindness (Photo: Getty)
Osman, who used to work as an executive producer on Deal or No Deal, shared the story on Twitter, saying: “A woman on Deal Or No Deal told us she needed £15k for IVF treatment. George Michael secretly phoned the next day and gave her the £15k.”
But that’s not the only tale of his random acts of kindness emerging after his death.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”tr”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>All stories appearing of ££££ he's donated silently for people he's heard was in need, shows what a great guy he was <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/georgemichael?src=hash”>#georgemichael</a> RIP</p>— ✨Just Sparkle✨ (@Pop_Dazzle) <a href=”https://twitter.com/Pop_Dazzle/status/813323589403443200″>26 Aralık 2016</a></blockquote>
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2. Donated £25k to a stranger in debt
Replying to Richard Osman’s story, one person said George Michael had once been seen in a cafe helping out a stranger who was crying because she was in debt.
Not wanting her to know he was helping, he gave the waitress a cheque for £25,000 to give to her after he left.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”tr”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”><a href=”https://twitter.com/richardosman”>@richardosman</a> he gave a stranger in a cafe £25k as she was crying over debt. Told the waitress to give her the cheque after he left.</p>— VectorVictoria (@V3ct0rv1ct0r) <a href=”https://twitter.com/V3ct0rv1ct0r/status/813306540753125376″>26 Aralık 2016</a></blockquote>
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3. Secretly volunteered at homeless shelter
It has also emerged that George Michael was anonymously volunteering at a homeless shelter, and had asked other volunteers to keep it a secret.
George Michael donated millions to charity in his lifetime (Photo: Rex Features)
One revealed it after his death to show what a true philanthropist the man was.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”tr”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>George Michael worked anonymously at a homeless shelter I was volunteering at. I've never told anyone, he asked we didn't. That's who he was</p>— EMILYNE MONDO (@EmilyneMondo) <a href=”https://twitter.com/EmilyneMondo/status/813319244242817025″>26 Aralık 2016</a></blockquote>
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4. Anonymously donated millions to Childline
Childline’s founder and president Dame Esther Rantzen told the Press Association: “For years now he has been the most extraordinarily generous philanthropist, giving money to Childline, but he was determined not to make his generosity public so no-one outside the charity knew how much he gave to the nation’s most vulnerable children.
“Over the years he gave us millions and we were planning next year, as part of our 30th anniversary celebrations to create, we hoped, a big concert in tribute to him – to his artistry, to his wonderful musicality but also to thank him for the 100s of 1,000s of children he helped through supporting Childline.”
5. Kept small charities afloat
One woman tweeted to say she had once spoken to someone from a charity who said they were “only afloat” because of George Michael.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”tr”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>A lady from a children's charity once told me they were only still afloat because of George Michael ❤ <a href=”https://t.co/W0vs3QxN1E”>https://t.co/W0vs3QxN1E</a></p>— Kate Waugh (@katewaugh) <a href=”https://twitter.com/katewaugh/status/813322720628928513″>26 Aralık 2016</a></blockquote>
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6. Supported NHS nurses
In 2006, George held a special free concert for NHS nurses to attend in north London.
He announced he would be hosting the event as a special thank you to the nurses who had cared for his late mother.
At the time, nurses who attended spoke to the BBC about how it made them feel.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”tr”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>George Michael used to give a bunch of free tickets to his shows to NHS nurses. He allocated a whole area of Wembley to nurses. DEMOGRAPHIC.</p>— Hayley Campbell (@hayleycampbell) <a href=”https://twitter.com/hayleycampbell/status/813313235835293700″>26 Aralık 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”tr”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Great music, stood up to bigotry & when his Mum died he held a free concert for the NHS nurses. Pure class. RIP George Michael</p>— Eddie Marsan (@eddiemarsan) <a href=”https://twitter.com/eddiemarsan/status/813316303217901569″>26 Aralık 2016</a></blockquote>
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Susan Steadman said: “He made all of us feel special. People do say thank you, but for George to say it publicly feels good.”
Ranjani Kendrick said: “I had the time of my life. It was such a vibrant atmosphere. I thank George Michael for making us feel appreciated.
“We all were so touched by the comments he made. I am glad the work we do has not gone unnoticed.”
He’s since given free seats away to NHS nurses at other concerts.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”tr”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>George Michael used to give a bunch of free tickets to his shows to NHS nurses. He allocated a whole area of Wembley to nurses. DEMOGRAPHIC.</p>— Hayley Campbell (@hayleycampbell) <a href=”https://twitter.com/hayleycampbell/status/813313235835293700″>26 Aralık 2016</a></blockquote>
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7. Tipped barmaid £5k
Writer Sali Hughes revealed today that the anonymous celebrity she talked about in one of her pieces was actually George Michael.
She revealed how he had tipped a barmaid £5,000 because she was a student nurse and she was in debt.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”tr”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>I wrote in a piece ages ago about a celeb I'd worked with tipping a barmaid £5k because she was a student nurse in debt. Was George Michael.</p>— Sali Hughes (@salihughes) <a href=”https://twitter.com/salihughes/status/813348024063852544″>26 Aralık 2016</a></blockquote>
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8. Donated his royalties
George Michael donated all the royalties from his 1996 number one single Jesus To a Child to charity.
He performed on Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas.
Michael also donated the royalties from Last Christmas/Everything She Wants to Ethiopian famine relief, and proceeds from Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me went to Aids hospice London Lighthouse and the Rainbow Trust children’s charity.
9. Saved John Lennon’s piano
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”tr”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>George Michael bought John Lennon's white piano so it wouldn't go to a private collector – then donated it to the Beatles exhibition. Ledg.</p>— Jamie Crowther (@jambounchained1) <a href=”https://twitter.com/jambounchained1/status/813312950622625792″>26 Aralık 2016</a></blockquote>
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In the year 2000, George Michael bought John Lennon’s piano – on which he composed ‘Imagine’ – for £1.45million from a private collector, vowing to keep it in the UK.
He then donated it to the Beatles Story museum in Liverpool so that it could be kept in Lennon’s hometown forever.
Fans are marvelling at how he kept all of these acts of kindness quiet during his lifetime.
Some are being brought to tears, while others are expressing that it’s a mark of the man he was.