George Michael is seen posing topless in a selfie with a retired hairdresser who claims he fell in love with the singing superstar during a fling in Australia after they met online
The George Michael posing for a topless selfie, smiling as he grips a bottle of coke, is a world away from the images the world has got used to seeing of the singer.
But this happy and relaxed man is the person who retired hairdresser Carlos Arturo Ortiz met and fell in love with during a brief affair in Australia after meeting online.
In fact, Ortiz has described his time with the Wham! frontman as the 'happiest moment of his life', as he revealed his fears for George.
Happier times: George Michael takes a selfie with retired hairdresser Carlos Arturo Ortiz during their brief romance in Australia. Ortiz has described it as the 'happiest moment of his life'
Connection: The pair talked about 'everything', and Michael even invited Ortiz to come to England
Ortiz - who described Michael as 'a kind, sensitive and lovely man in search of happiness' - told Simon Boyle of the Sunday Mirror: 'I have the most lovely memories of our time together, so it has been very sad to see stories of him that say he’s not at his best.'
The two met at the Park Hyatt hotel after connecting online, according to Oritz, who said they spoke for hours 'about everything', with Michael's head lying across his chest.
Before long, Michael had invited 64-year-old Oritz back to England - but admitted he still had a boyfriend at home, although 'things weren't working out'.
'I told him that I couldn’t come to see him while his boyfriend was still living with him, but that we could stay in touch by telephone,' recalled Oritz.
The two eventually lost touch, and the former hairdresser has now decided to share the pictures of the relaxed-looking singer, taken a few years ago.
The man smiling back at the camera is a far cry from the Michael pictured looking overweight and tired earlier in the summer.
Ending: But Michael was still in a relationship, so the pair agreed to keep in contact by phone, but lost touch
Defending himself: Michael was spotted looking overweight and tired earlier this summer
The entertainer - who over the years has had a public battle with drugs, and several arrests in relation to them - has rarely been seen in public recently, and it was claimed last year that he only allows his best friend and co-writer David Austin to visit him at his North London mansion.
Most recently, he has been forced to deny claims he was a drug-addled wreck, , made by his cousin's wife Jackie Georgiou.
He dismissed the allegations on Twitter, saying he hand't seen her in 25 years.
In 2011, George nearly died from pneumonia when he fell ill while preparing for a concert in Vienna, and needed a tracheotomy to keep him breathing when he slipped into a coma.
That year, he also revealed he had ended his relationship with then boyfriend Kenny Goss, after being together for 15 years. He is now dating Fadi Fawaz.
Michael has had a series of drug-related arrests. In 2006, Michael was detained by police in possession of Class C drugs, later saying it was his 'own stupid fault, as usual'.
Seeking help: He was also forced to deny he was a drug-addled wreck after the pop icon's relative, Jackie Georgiou, told The Sun she was 'petrified' the 52-year-old will die
Change: The singer looked bloated as he mingled with friends while marking his most recent milestone Zurich
The following year he said cannabis use was 'a problem' for him, adding: 'I would like to take less, no question.'
He was arrested and cautioned after being found with drugs in a public toilet in north London in 2008, then jailed for driving his Range Rover into a Snappy Snaps store in 2010.
In 2013, he was involved in a bizarre accident on the M1 motorway when he reportedly fell out of his car's door while trying to ensure it was properly closed.
A spokesman for Michael said they do not comment on personal matters.
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