Privacy. Something we all naturally like to protect, especially in this day and age. The smart people hold something back and are understandably outraged when someone does something that undermines this.
So I occasionally find myself sympathising with certain celebrities. Not often, admittedly, but just occasionally, when the press pushes it just a little bit too far, I shake my head and think, “Not good. Someone should put a stop to that.”
When it comes to George Michael, however, I have absolutely no sympathy at all. I don’t think I can actually say what I think about him, for fear of legal repercussions (and I’m not being paranoid; the people I write about here do occasionally read my blog — more about that at a later date.) But let it suffice to say that I’m not a fan of the man or his music.
Now, before anyone accuses me of being homophobic — don’t. It’s a cheap shot and you’ll have to do better than that. My dislike is founded in his ridiculous courting of publicity he then claims he wishes to avoid. The episode in the toilet and his jolly boy’s outing on Hampstead Heath don’t even come into it, nor does his use of cannabis. Frankly, I don’t care. It’s probably worth mentioning, however, that if he thinks this is the way to avoid publicity then… well, I’ll simply say that I can’t see his application for Mensa being accepted any time soon.
And so, he’s giving up touring and seeking “a quieter life”. And, in pursuit of said quieter life, he naturally gave an interview to the BBC! He also said similar things about not wanting to be in the public eye quite so much on Parkinson a while ago…
… and I can’t help wondering just how many other interviews he’s given on this subject!
George, George, George… buy yourself a nice chateaux somewhere remote, keep out of trouble for a few months, don’t give interviews, have a proper shave — and rest assured, piece by piece, a little at a time, the quiet life will find you.
If you want it to, that is.