George Michael’s cousin hits back at ‘snooty’ neighbours

A cousin of George Michael living in the pop star’s mansion has slammed ‘snooty’ residents calling for a tribute garden to be removed.

Alex Georgiou, 49, who is currently living in the singer’s Highgate mansion, north London, said the star deserves more respect from neighbours as the anniversary of his death approaches.

He added that nearby resident Kate Moss feels like he does about the situation and slammed the complainers as ‘two faced’.

A local conservation committee has called for the large tribute garden, which has dozens of balloons and pictures and letters to the star, to be removed as it has recently become a soggy mess.

After news broke that George Michael had been found dead at his Oxfordshire aged 53, thousands of fans flocked to his Georgian mansion in north London and left tributes

But nearly a year on neighbours have complained about the sea of tributes and claimed it has become a 'soggy mess'

But nearly a year on neighbours have complained about the sea of tributes and claimed it has become a ‘soggy mess’

George's cousin wants the tributes to stay and said resident Kate Moss feels like he does about the situation. He slammed the complainers as 'two faced'

George’s cousin wants the tributes to stay and said resident Kate Moss feels like he does about the situation. He slammed the complainers as ‘two faced’

The residents’ committee has called for a statue to be erected instead but fans and family say George would have found the saga surrounding the tributes ‘laughable’ and insist he would never want to be immortalised in stone.

Highgate is one of the most exclusive areas in London and is home to celebrities including Jude Law and Jamie Oliver. 

Alex, who looks after George’s Labrador Abby at the detached mansion, dismissed the idea of a statue and hinted there may be a chance that a bench with a plaque would be installed.

Outside George’s home Alex said: ‘Considering that it hasn’t even been a year and people are complaining, shame on them.

‘They are all living in their big houses, George would say “shame on them”, the only thing they have to worry about is a garden full of flowers.

‘I am upset about it, it hasn’t even been a year, they should at least give him that. 

Alex Georgiou, 49, who is currently living in the singer's Highgate mansion, north London, said the star deserves more respect from neighbours as the anniversary of his death approaches

Alex Georgiou, 49, who is currently living in the singer’s Highgate mansion, north London, said the star deserves more respect from neighbours as the anniversary of his death approaches

A row has broken out between George Michael fans and his former dead star's old neighbours over tributes left outside his house

A row has broken out between George Michael fans and his former dead star’s old neighbours over tributes left outside his house

Some have called for a statue of George - but his family has called the idea 'laughable'

Some have called for a statue of George – but his family has called the idea ‘laughable’

‘I have been staying here for the last four years, I worked as George’s PA and I look after his Labrador Abby and looked after his other dog Meg until she died a few years ago. 

‘George would think it was laughable and he would probably think there is so many more important issues going on in the world to worry about than neighbours complaining about a tribute garden.

‘The fans come regularly and they stand in the cold. George would not want a statue of himself but there is talk that there might be a bench with a plaque.

‘George was so generous and charitable and I can’t believe they would not give him more respect, I take that personally, he was such a lovely man.

‘I know Kate Moss definitely feels the same way, George and Kate were close.

‘If he was still alive the same neighbours that are complaining would walk by and say ‘hello George’, they are two faced.

Pictured: The Wham! singer died on December 25 aged 53 at home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire 

Pictured: The Wham! singer died on December 25 aged 53 at home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire 

‘The Highgate Conservation committee are just snooty.’

Inside the tribute garden on Monday afternoon several fans had come to read the messages and pay their respects to the singer.

Maria Philippou, 50, from Cyprus, said: ‘Lots of fans do not want a statue, this tribute garden is a lot more personal and it is somewhere nice for people to come and pay their respects.

‘I was a major fan back in the day so I said to my friend when we come to London on holiday I just want to see it all.

‘Last year was a horrible shock for all of us, but this is a beautiful beautiful tribute.’

Debbie Christofi, 43, said: ‘I think the garden should stay, there should not be a statue, George was a private man why should he be immortalised in something so cold? He was more than that.’

Susan Rose, chair of the Highgate Conservation Area Advisory Committee said: ‘The Highgate Conservation Area Committee is not opposed to some kind of memorial, but the form of which it would take would be up to the family.

‘The Committee does not exist in opposition or apart from the residents it consists entirely of local residents and it was the opinion at the last gathering that they are sympathetic with the feelings of the fans who obviously feel bereaved and it is entirely appropriate for them to express themselves.

‘Now that the anniversary of George Michael’s death is approaching it is time to consider a permanent memorial rather than a spontaneous one.’ 

 



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