George Michael’s Death Is Met With Disbelief by Celebrities on Twitter

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/25/arts/music/george-michael-death-social-media-reaction.html

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George Michael, the pop superstar and icon of the 1980s and ’90s, died on Sunday, provoking an outpouring of fond and grief-stricken reaction from fans around the world, many of them celebrities in their own right.

The rapper Q-Tip, the singer LeAnn Rimes Cibrian and the actor William Shatner all echoed a frustration shared by many on social media in response to a raft of recent celebrity deaths: The year had claimed yet another respected soul, they lamented.

The actor Rob Lowe and the singer- songwriter Josh Groban, as did many others, praised Mr. Michael’s striking singing voice.

While others, like Questlove, the drummer for the hip-hop group the Roots; the rock band OneRepublic; and comedian Ellen DeGeneres, remembered him simply as a legendary musician.

Some found themselves short on words to describe what they felt.

Others remembered him for the role he played as a gay icon who came out in 1998 and had long supported gay rights.