Fans Pay Tribute to George Michael in London; Singer Died of Heart Failure

Mourners left flowers and notes outside George Michael’s Highgate home in Goring-on-Thames, England, as tributes poured in from around the world.

The 53-year-old singer/songwriter reportedly died of heart failure in his sleep on Christmas day.

Fans mingled with the growing media horde outside the mansion located in the most expensive part of north London.
According to the NY Times, David Beddall, the churchwarden at St. Thomas of Canterbury Church, wondered why Michael missed midnight Christmas service. Beddall and a friend passed by Michael’s home. “We thought he wasn’t at home,” Mr. Beddall said. “He had his garden decorated with lights and you could see them from the bridge. It’s quite an impressive sight.”
“He didn’t like the attention. He was very humble,” said Mitsuya Fujimoto, a neighbor and music producer.
Michael came out as gay in 1998, following his arrest for soliciting sex from an undercover cop in a men’s room at a park in Beverly Hills, Calif.
“He should’ve come out much sooner than later, because I think that made him stressed,” Mr. Fujimoto said.