George Michael's Christmas Day death shocked the world, and now the tragic details that are leaking out about the former Wham! frontman's demise are equally as heartbreaking.
The British singer's boyfriend, Fadi Fawaz, reportedly tweeted Monday that he was the one who found Michael dead on Christmas morning at the musician's home in Goring, Oxfordshire, England, according to "Entertainment Tonight."
Even though Fawaz's Twitter account is not verified, it was followed by the Grammy Award-winning singer. Fawaz, a celebrity hairdresser, had not posted on the account since September 2015, but responded to a message from photographer John McRae.
Michael, 53, was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou. Authorities said they were called to his home at 1:42 p.m. on Christmas and noted that the death is being treated as "unexplained but not suspicious," The Guardian reported.
"Entertainment Tonight" reported that Michael died from heart failure, through the singer's U.S. manager confirmed he had not been ill.
"It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother, and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period," his publicist said in a statement, according to The Guardian. "The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further comment at this stage."
The New York Times called Michael "one of pop's reigning stars of the 1980s and 90s," when he earned a string of hits as the duo Wham! before establishing a successful solo career. He reached critical acclaim in 1988, winning a Grammy for "I Knew You Were Waiting (for Me)" with Aretha Franklin and for his album "Faith."
He came out as gay in 1998 and helped support AIDS prevention and LGBT issues, The Times noted. He was arrested in Beverly Hills, California, in 1998 on charges of lewd conduct in a men’s room, according to the newspaper.
Led for his former Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley and Elton John, celebrities and fans shared their condolences on Twitter.
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