People News

George Michael's drug past, crack included

Dec 6, 2009, 12:03 GMT

The former Wham! singer has spoken out about his use of the Class A drug and claims he has smoked it "once or twice". EPA/TONI ALBIR

George Michael has admitted to smoking crack cocaine.

The former Wham! singer has spoken out about his use of the Class A drug and claims he has smoked it "once or twice".

He said: "I've done different things at different times that I shouldn't have done, once or twice, you know. Of course, nobody wants to regularly smoke crack."

Last year, the 46-year-old pop star was found by police in public toilets in London's Hampstead Heath with crack cocaine on him.

When George was asked whether he had taken the substance at the time, he revealed: "Was I? On that occasion, yeah."

George also admitted he has been working hard to cut his drug use down from 25 spliffs - the term commonly used to describe cannabis-laced cigarettes - a day.

He explained to Britain's The Guardian newspaper: "I probably do about seven or eight a day now."

Meanwhile, the singer is frustrated his celebrity friends - including pop superstar Elton John - have voiced concerns about his health and his penchant for casual sex.

He explained: "People want to see me as tragic with all the cottaging and drug-taking.

"I don't see them as weaknesses any more. It's just who I am.

"Elton will not be happy until I bang on his door in the middle of the night saying, 'Please, please, help me, Elton. Take me to rehab.' It's not going to happen."

George has also spoken frankly about his enjoyment of cottaging - where men meet anonymously in public lavatories to have sex - because he believes it is "nicer" than meeting men in bars.

He explained: "The handful of times a year it's bloody warm enough, I'll do it. I'll do it on a nice summer evening. Quite often there are campfires up there. It's a much nicer place to get some quick and honest sex than standing in a bar, E'd off your t**s shouting at somebody and hoping they want the same thing as you do in bed. Do you know what I mean?

"I do get anyone I want. But I like a bit of everything. I have friends up there, I have a laugh."