Pop star George Michael has said he “just wants to start again” following his release from prison in Suffolk after serving a sentence for drug driving.
The 47-year-old said it was “fantastic” to be free on “a beautiful day”.
“I just want to say thank you for everybody who has supported me in there,” the singer told reporters outside his north London home.
Michael served half of an eight-week sentence in jail for crashing his car while under the influence of cannabis.
He was arrested in July after being found slumped at the wheel of his Land Rover in Hampstead, north London.
“Much as I would prefer to rise above the usual rubbish that I’m reading day after day about my time here in prison, I think it’s only fair to my fans, family and friends to respond in some way, even though I will be home soon.
“Please believe me when I tell you that in the last three weeks there have been no tears, no anxiety, no bullying, in fact not so much as a sleepless night for me. On the contrary, I have been treated with kindness by fellow in-mates and prison staff alike and as far as I can tell, have received no special treatment of any kind whatsoever.
“Most of my days have been spent reading thousands of letters and postcards of incredible support from people around the world. I promise to repay their kindness with new music as soon as I possibly can, and as far as running around this place “naked” and “drunk” on “Hooch” with an inmate for a bodyguard, let’s just say that the Sunday Mirror will be hearing from my lawyers very shortly. With Love always, George Michael.”
Make sure to follow Yours Only George on Facebook and X, and join our mailing list for the latest news on George Michael.
JAILED George Michael has received a hand-written letter from Sir Paul McCartney.
Macca wrote to the singer to lift his spirits while he serves time for his drug-fuelled car smash.
Pals said the Beatles legend, 68, “empathised” with the Wham! star’s plight after he spent ten days in prison in Tokyo in 1980 after being caught with cannabis.
George, 47, has served two weeks of his eight-week sentence and could be out on licence in a fortnight from Category C jail Highpoint in Suffolk.
A source said: “He got the letter on Monday and was really chuffed. Sir Paul said he would see him soon and told George to keep his chin up.
“The letter was two pages long and George read it over and over again.”
Jailed George Michael has enraged inmates at his new jail by being given special privileges right away.
Convicts usually need to behave well for several weeks before rising to “enhanced” status, which allows them extra visits and a PlayStation in their cell.
Michael, 47 – who is serving two months for a drug-fuelled car crash – arrived at Highpoint jail in Suffolk on Friday.
Amel Sahbaz, 23, who was visiting his brother, said: “It’s not fair. The other inmates have to earn their way onto that wing but George is famous so he’s allowed in straight away.”
Visitor Amanda Hunt said: “My friend saw him playing pool with another prisoner and he seemed happy, but looks very haggard and quite old.”
Make sure to follow Yours Only George on Facebook and X, and join our mailing list for the latest news on George Michael.
The image he established on Faith will outlast his fall from grace, because it has become a pop prototype, capturing not just a moment in time, but a whole idea of how a modern star can create a look and sound that crosses all the bases, risque without alienating the mainstream, sexy without being too trite or immature for adults.
Maybe what happened to George Michael afterward will make this artfully constructed persona seem more interesting, rather than less. You’ve got to have faith, as the man himself might suggest.
Let’s face it, George Michael occupies a special place in the hearts of the British public. We are enormously fond of him and we hate to see him hit bad times.
Our fondness is partly rooted in the fact that he has made some phenomenally good pop music. Michael peaked as a solo artist with 1987’s Faith and you have to wonder how much his predilection for funny fags has affected him creatively.
But Wham! were a staggeringly good all-in pop proposition, easily one of the best this country has ever produced. They were cartoonishly pretty and upbeat, but also musically deft and inventive and lyrically inspired.
Make sure to follow Yours Only George on Facebook and X, and join our mailing list for the latest news on George Michael.
