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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Friends 'worried' about Michael | Friends 'worried' about Michael |
| (about 24 hours later) | |
| Sir Elton John has been contacted by friends of singer George Michael "worried" about his frame of mind, David Furnish has told the BBC. | Sir Elton John has been contacted by friends of singer George Michael "worried" about his frame of mind, David Furnish has told the BBC. |
| "They keep calling us and saying 'you have to do something, George is in a bad way'", Furnish, Sir Elton's civil partner, told BBC Radio 5 live. | "They keep calling us and saying 'you have to do something, George is in a bad way'", Furnish, Sir Elton's civil partner, told BBC Radio 5 live. |
| "If he doesn't want help or... doesn't think he needs help, that's fine." | "If he doesn't want help or... doesn't think he needs help, that's fine." |
| On Saturday, Michael told Saturday's Guardian newspaper: "Elton needs to get on with his own life". | On Saturday, Michael told Saturday's Guardian newspaper: "Elton needs to get on with his own life". |
| Michael has admitted a past addiction to prescription drugs and said he is still a regular cannabis user. | Michael has admitted a past addiction to prescription drugs and said he is still a regular cannabis user. |
| He claimed to smoke 25 cannabis cigarettes a day though he said in his recent interview that he has cut his usage to "about seven or eight a day now". | He claimed to smoke 25 cannabis cigarettes a day though he said in his recent interview that he has cut his usage to "about seven or eight a day now". |
| 'Very concerned' | 'Very concerned' |
| But, speaking on 5 live's Victoria Derbyshire programme, Furnish said: "We're only reacting to what his close friends are saying to us. | But, speaking on 5 live's Victoria Derbyshire programme, Furnish said: "We're only reacting to what his close friends are saying to us. |
| "A lot of people are saying it to us, we get it very regularly. | "A lot of people are saying it to us, we get it very regularly. |
| "They're saying they're concerned about his health, concerned about his state of mind and his well-being and because Elton has been there and experienced sobriety now for 19 years, that perhaps he's in the best position to help him." | "They're saying they're concerned about his health, concerned about his state of mind and his well-being and because Elton has been there and experienced sobriety now for 19 years, that perhaps he's in the best position to help him." |
| However, Michael told the Guardian: "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." | However, Michael told the Guardian: "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." |
| In June 2007, the singer was banned for two years after pleading guilty to driving while unfit through drugs. | In June 2007, the singer was banned for two years after pleading guilty to driving while unfit through drugs. |
| He was also twice cautioned for possessing cannabis after being found asleep at the wheel of his car on two separate occasions in 2006. | He was also twice cautioned for possessing cannabis after being found asleep at the wheel of his car on two separate occasions in 2006. |
| Furnish said he and Sir Elton are called by George's friends "regularly" | Furnish said he and Sir Elton are called by George's friends "regularly" |
| Film producer Furnish said: "George has to want help himself and if he wants help, then we're here for him. | |
| "If he doesn't want help, that's his choice too or if he doesn't think he needs help then that's also fine." | "If he doesn't want help, that's his choice too or if he doesn't think he needs help then that's also fine." |
| George Michael's spokesperson could not be reached for comment. | George Michael's spokesperson could not be reached for comment. |