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Extended Cut: George Michael with Marcus McCann, Part 2

🕑 Added 2024-04-30 22:49:18 +0000 UTC

Comments

Molly

Really loved this series. Thank you Sarah!

Laura Williams-Burke

This two-parter is so beautifully done and represents everything I love about You’re Wrong About. The part about the release of the cause of death reminds me of the recent death of Matthew Perry. I remember being so desperate for him to not have overdosed, because Perry brought such joy to my life, and so I found it awful to think of him suffering. Yet I understand why it’s weird for me to have had any opinion of what ended his life. Anyway, just random things going through my mind as the credits roll. Thank you for always outlining the nuance that makes life interesting.

Katie Bryer

Love this! But as someone from the UK, I can see that a US perspective on George misses the UK’s complex relationship with George, via the tabloid press. The reporting was undeniably cruel, but it wasn’t necessarily puritanical. The more of a fuck up the UK’s celebrities are, the more loved they are. George was so loved, not just by his music fans. It often comes down to a sense of humour. The press reported on him as a clown… the public revelled in his lapses with glee (hence the Wham graffiti by the car dent) and George responded with self deprecating humour (see his appearance in Extras). So, even though the general public had lapped up the nasty tabloid reporting, they were devastated when he died… across the board. Not just his fans. It was complicated but no less cruel than you reported. And so, so sad. RIP George xxx

Marcus McCann

It’s from Mary Ruefle’s essay “On Beginnings” in Madness, Rack and Honey. I think you can read most of that essay for free on Google Books. The reference is at pages 8-9. The whole book is a delight, though, and I definitely recommend it

Anjali

The artist Aaron Lee Tasjan, just released a new album with a song called "Ocean Drive" about Gianni Versace. That song has been in my head since this deep-dive about George Michael's life and untimely death. These episodes were so gorgeous and heartbreaking. A classic You're Wrong About story. Over time, I feel like the narrative that emerged about him was that he was gay, which is fine, but that he was also still a deviant. I'm grateful to have learned who he really was on his own terms.

emma kouhi

do you (does anyone?) happen to have a source/full text for the Mary Rufo quote Marcus referenced about speaking to people the same way at their birth and at their death? i loved the idea, i’d love to read the original quote!

Kirstine

This while story reminds me so much of the story of Kitty Genovese, in that George is just out there being gay in times where it's difficult. Even though there's a lot of tragedy here, there's clearly also a lot of unadulterated gay joy and I really love that. Thank you for this story

Suradha

This is such a bittersweet episode and y'all handled it beautifully 🤍

Zoe Michael

100%

Sheri Preston

I have narcolepsy, for which the treatment is GHB and I can tell you that I definitely understand why normal people would use it to party and also to self-medicate for their depression and general mental anguish. "They" say it feels a lot like being drunk and also being high at the same time, but mostly it just makes me very sleepy. It definitely feels like passing out drunk every night that I take it

Anne Driscoll

Incredible two-parter! Thank you for sharing this story so beautifully. “Listen without Prejudice Vol. 1” sounded perfect as my follow up to these insightful and empathy-filled episodes ♥️🎵

Matilda Ellis

Loved this episode and just wanted to share that every year in London there is a queer protest/party called ‘ F*ck off This is My Culture’ The organisers describe it saying: “The party is named after the moment George was taking a late-night stroll on Hampstead Heath when he was ambushed by a photographer from the News of the World and responded with “Are you gay? No? Then fuck off! This is my culture!” Just one example of how George Michael helped millions to re-evaluate and transform how they saw and embraced sexuality. It has since grown into an iconic and huge annual queer freedom protest. There is a musical and political theme to each “This Is My Culture” protest party to curate and cultivate queer creativity and joy as a revolutionary act. A lovely testimony to his legacy in the queer community 🫶💘

Matilda Ellis

Drew Gemmer

I have been not-so-patiently waiting for this like Christmas morning. So excited!

Michael Waite

This is such a lovely two parter. My boyfriend is relatively newly bi and he said to me yesterday that sometimes he feels very comfortable with his identity and sometimes it feels awful. The history around this stuff within our communities and the shame around same sex relations is, I feel such a good way of getting to know yourself and recognising that your experiences aren't unique, and that theyre driven by systematic oppression. I can understand people's reluctance in this situation to engage with this kind of narrative because it can really make clear how wide the scope of these prejudices are, but idk, I don't know if there's any other good ways of getting comfy as part of a demographic.

Clara Edwards

“He’s a grown woman, he can do whatever he wants!”

Alex Callahan

Lawyer here who laughed out loud at “ is there a legal definition of unconscionable?” - one of the most subjective and vibe-based legal concepts out there