British Pop Icon George Michael Dies at 53, another Victim of the 2016 Celebrity Curse

Pop superstar George Michael, has died at the age of 53 from a suspected heart attack. Police officers were called to a property in Goring-on-Thames in Oxfordshire before 2pm on Christmas Day. The death is being treated as “unexplained but not suspicious.”

His manager, Michael Lippman, then said the singer had died of heart failure.

Born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, in north London, George Michael gained world fame in the 80s as a member of Wham! with their hits ‘Wake me up before you go-go’ and ‘Last Christmas.’

Continuing his hugely successful solo career with the multi-million selling ‘Faith’ in 1987, George Michael soon became one of the world’s best selling artists with 100 million records sold worldwide. He collaborated with singers like Aretha Franklin and Elton John and won three Brit Awards and two Grammy’s throughout his career.

His 1990s album ‘Listen Without Prejudice’ Vol.1 was set for re-release with a new film featuring Stevie Wonder, and Elton John. Michael was also set to make a documentary next year.

His loss was met with great sadness on social media, with some claiming him another victim of the “2016 Celebrity Curse,” which has also claimed the lives of other world-renowned greats, including singer David Bowie, actor Alan Rickman, singer Rick Parfitt, singer Prince, actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, actor Peter Vaughan, actor Andrew Sachs, singer Leonard Cohen, actor Gene Wilder and heavyweight champion Muhammed Ali.

For a full shocking list of celebrities who sadly passed this year, click here.

By Nino Gugunishvili