People News
Sony/BMG may give the ax to George Michael
By Stone Martindale Oct 3, 2006, 4:30 GMT
British singer George Michael performs during a concert at Palau Sant Jordi, in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, 23 September 2006. EPA/GUIDO MANUILO
Alleged sources at record label Sony/BMG say its executives have put out word that unless George Michael cleans up his act, he will be removed from the label. According to This is London.com.
Michael was recently nabbed in his second arrest this year on suspicion of being unfit to drive when he was rushed to hospital after cops found him slumped over his steering wheel at traffic lights.
George, 43, was given a slap on the wrist warning for possessing cannabis just a week into his world tour.
Sony/BMG moguls say he must control his cannabis abuse and stop drawing unwanted attention to his private life as well as seeking help for his apparent addiction to the drug.
Faith singer Michael has just started a 50-date sell-out world tour, his first for 15 years, and will launch a new album commemorating 25 years in the music business next month.
Both promoters and the label have banked millions into Michael's career relaunch.
This is London.com reports that unnamed sources at Sony/BMG described Michael's most recent arrest in the early hours of Sunday morning as "exasperating". Their well-placed source at Sony/BMG said last night: "George seems to be getting more and more unpredictable.
"He is drawing attention to himself by his increasingly erratic behavior."
Recently caught prowling the woods of Hampstead Heath, openly gay Michael was caught cruising a jobless 58-year-old van driver he met near his home in the early hours.
The anonymous source tells This is London: "That is twice now he has been found slumped unconscious behind the wheel. He has also been photographed coming out of the woods with a grey-haired stranger in the middle of the night after some dodgy sexual encounter.
"We're really banking on this comeback being a great success - and to be fair ticket sales have been phenomenal.
"But I'm not sure how much more of this fans can take. It is now at a point where we are going to have to warn him that he must start carrying on more responsibly or else we will have to seriously consider his future with us."
Michael's spokesman said to This is London: "George is fine".
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Older Talkback
page: 1
I think that companies are starting to take an eyeball on their stars and see if trouble vs money is worth it. Looks like his tour was sold out - so they might complain, but I bet THIS time they prop him up and get him thru the series...after this, maybe it's not worth the trouble.
Wow George Michael has sex with older guy and smokes a bit of pot...big deal. This is England...it's a free country and we can have sex with whom we like and the smoking of pot is now a common thing everywhere you go in the UK. Leave him alone...he's a fine singer and as far as I know has never hurt anyone.
I recall a model called kate was caught taking cocaine...dosnt seem to have done her career any harm...has been signed up for a £20 million pound contract...at least george is open and honest unlike all those closeted bigots
who run home to there wifes and girlfriends.....hope he dosnt do himself any lasting harm...good luck george boy!!!
An employer has the right to expect certain standards of conduct from it's employees. Especially when they invest as much in a person as they have no doubt done for Mr. Michael. They also have a responsibility to their shareholders. I'm sure they didn't intend to give George a bunch of money just so he could go enjoy himself. He has a responsibility to produce and it is well documented that people with substance or alcohol problems are less productive. It's business pure and simple.
What a big scary threat!!! George's contract with Sony is over with the release of the cd set '25' next month anyway.
If you ask me George has a problem with cannabis, being open about it doesn't change the fact that the drug can alter peoples behaviour and make them do things they wouldn't normally do. I've a lot of respect for the man, he has a fine voice and the way he dealt with his arrest in 'that' toilet all those years ago was a masterclass in public relations some politicians could learn from, honesty, it seems, is always the best policy. But he's become more and more erratic in his behaviour and that worries me, I'm almost certain its the cannabis. I don't want to see one of our most gifted singer songwriters do himself or anyone else any harm, I wish he'd get back on track and hit the headlines for what he does best. Good luck George.
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anonymousOct 3rd, 2006 - 06:52:25
Oh come on, how many women has Mick Jagger screwed? George Michael is old enough to do whatever he likes. A record company objecting to the publicity of one of their stars sounds pretty weird too. This is soooooooo manufactured!
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