A statement has just been released on GeorgeMichael.com following George’ performance earlier this evening at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
I have today announced the cancellation of the shows in Australia which breaks my heart. By way of explanation all I can say at this time is that since last year’s illness I have tried in vain to work my way through the trauma that the doctors who saved my life warned me I would experience. They recommended complete rest and the type of post traumatic counselling which is available in cases like mine but I’m afraid I believed (wrongly) that making music and getting out there to perform for the audiences that bring me such joy would be therapy enough in itself. Unfortunately I seriously underestimated how difficult this year would be and although I was right to believe that the shows would bring me great happiness and that my voice would recover completely (I truly think that some of my recent performances have been my best ever) I was wrong to think I could work my way through the major anxiety that has plagued me since I left Austria last December.
All that’s left for me to do is apologise to my wonderful Australian fan base and to promise faithfully that as soon as I completed these shows here in the UK I will receive the treatment which is so long overdue.
— George Michael
As I previously wrote about George’s single ‘White Light’, I too went through a similar experience, believe it or not twelve years ago today. I, too, thought I was fine but things build up and I was told I had Post Traumatic Stress, so I know what it’s like. George is right to take time off, when this happened me, I moved countries for a bit, just for a change of scenery. Even still, things can happen to bring everything flooding back, as I found out on Monday of this week. Hope you feel better soon George, it’s actually really tough being faced with your own mortality.
Hugz