believed Wham! broke up because he was struggling with being in the closet rather than being open about his sexuality.
The Careless Whisper legend died on Christmas Day 2016 at the age of 53, after a decades-long career which saw him.
He had first become a household name with childhood friend Andrew Ridgeley, as the duo set up acclaimed band Wham!
Wham! split in 1986, with Michael going on to find success as a solo artist – however in a never-before-aired interview, he admitted the band split because he was struggling with conflicting and guilt-ridden feelings about .
Upcoming Netflix documentary Wham! shows an old, unaired interview with Michael, who in speaking about the band’s split, admits: ‘In reality, the turning point of Wham! was nothing to do with Wham!.
‘The turning point of Wham! was me as I suddenly thought, “Oh my God, I’m a massive star and I’m gay,” and the depression was about that, about the way I’d boxed myself in.’
Michael built up the courage to tell bandmate and long-time friend Ridgeley, who supported him but advised him not to come out to his family, particularly his father – which Michael called ‘a pivotal moment.’
‘At that point in time, I really did want to come out, and then I lost my nerve completely.’
Wham!’s success brought more guilt and misery to Michael, and he knew that no matter how well the band did, ‘this was the wrong road if I was looking for happiness.’
Instead, he ‘wanted to be able to develop as a human being but I felt trapped.’
The Freedom! singer remained closeted to many of his friends and family for years after Wham! came to an end, only telling his parents in 1993 after his boyfriend, Anselmo Feleppa, died of Aids.
Netflix’s new documentary looks at Wham!’s stratospheric success, as well as Michael and Ridgeley’s friendship from their schooldays to starting the band and its early days.
It also sees Michael speaking about his sexuality, having first thought he was bisexual as a teenager before falling in love with a man for the first time and realising he was gay.
Michael went on to find massive success as a solo artist after Wham! finished, with his solo singles among the most famous in his entire discography, from Careless Whisper to Faith and Freedom! 90.
In February, eight years after his death, Michael was nominated for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, alongside the likes of Kate Bush and Iron Maiden, and in May earned his place among other legendary musicians.
Netflix documentary Wham! begins streaming July 5.
