News | Entertainment
3 Apr 2025 20:37
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    George Michael's family have been granted permission to erect a memorial statue

    The 'Careless Whisper' hitmaker passed away in December 2016 and five years ago, his estate lodged plans for a bronze tribute with the local council in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, where he lived before he died, and they have finally been approved


    George's childhood friend Andros Georgiou met with sculptor Laura Lian at the memorial site over the weekend to discuss the project.

    A source told The Sun newspaper's Bizarre column: "Everyone is thrilled to finally have the go ahead. The work begins soon.

    "Laura was introduced to George's estate by a friend and they loved her previous work, including figures of David Bowie and John Lennon.

    "Everyone is looking forward to one day being able to unveil the statue in Goring, where he had loved his quiet life for 17 years."

    Local councillors had previously warned there would be "resistance" from some of the 3,200 residents in the village.

    Commenting on the application when it was first made, parish councillor Catherine Hall said: "I'm reluctant to even agree in principle because we risk stirring up a hornets' nest."

    George's Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley previously backed calls for a memorial to his late friend.

    He said on UK TV show 'Good Morning Britain': "I think there's a very good case for that. There's an appetite...I don't see why there shouldn't be some sort public place for a memorial. He was much loved and there seems to be a desire for it."

    The 'Freedom' singer's fans flocked to his homes in Goring and Highgate, north London, after his death to pay their respects, but in 2018, George's family issued an appeal for them to remove their tributes so local residents could carry on with normal life.

    They wrote on his website: "We've been touched by your many tributes celebrating and remembering Yog, reminding us how very much he is missed and loved.

    "However, we feel we cannot expect our Highgate and Goring neighbours to continue to accept as normality, the memorials so personal to you all, to remain as and where they are any longer although, we do appreciate your recent efforts to minimise their impact...

    "Yog liked his privacy, his homes were true havens for him (-such a Cancerian!) and, ultimately, long term, we know he would not want to disturb or change the quiet neighbourhoods he so loved, for the people in the local area, who honestly , despite reports otherwise have been gracious and very understanding."

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     03 Apr: Charlie Sheen's daughter Sami hasn't spoken to him "in five months"
     03 Apr: John Cena has been diagnosed with skin cancer twice
     03 Apr: Kim Delaney will not face charges following her recent arrest on suspicion of felony assault
     03 Apr: Denise Richards was "upset" with her ex-husband Charlie Sheen for publicly disclosing his HIV diagnosis without informing her in advance
     03 Apr: Rosamund Pike was worried about her nipple tape injuring Pierce Brosnan while they filmed a love scene for the 2002 James Bond film 'Die Another Day'
     03 Apr: Noel and Liam Gallagher are said to be set to earn millions more from their Oasis reunion tour this summer thanks to image rights
     03 Apr: Wendy Williams' fans are rallying around her amid her fierce battle over her guardianship
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Beauden Barrett's declaring himself ready to return to Super Rugby this weekend with the Blues More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Confirmation the ripple effects of declining interest rates - still haven't changed consumer habits More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Charlie Sheen's daughter Sami hasn't spoken to him "in five months" 20:18

    Entertainment:
    John Cena has been diagnosed with skin cancer twice 19:48

    Entertainment:
    Kim Delaney will not face charges following her recent arrest on suspicion of felony assault 19:18

    Business:
    Confirmation the ripple effects of declining interest rates - still haven't changed consumer habits 18:57

    Entertainment:
    Denise Richards was "upset" with her ex-husband Charlie Sheen for publicly disclosing his HIV diagnosis without informing her in advance 18:48

    Law and Order:
    Police believe a homicide and aggravated burglary in Wellington's Miramar last month are connected 18:37

    Entertainment:
    Rosamund Pike was worried about her nipple tape injuring Pierce Brosnan while they filmed a love scene for the 2002 James Bond film 'Die Another Day' 18:18

    Politics:
    What we know about Qatargate scandal surrounding Netanyahu government 18:17

    Law and Order:
    The imprisonment of a sexual predator - has prompted Police to urge caution 18:07

    Entertainment:
    Noel and Liam Gallagher are said to be set to earn millions more from their Oasis reunion tour this summer thanks to image rights 17:48


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd