George Michael fans were left unimpressed by a star-studded tribute medley in the legendary singer's honour at the MTV Video Music Awards, held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The performance came as the tenth anniversary of his death approaches this Christmas, and 40 years since his landmark album Faith.
Tribute performers and backlash
Raye, Sombr, Teddy Swims, and surprise guest Adam Lambert took part in the multi-hit homage. Sombr opened wearing George's famous leather pants and open jacket, before Raye performed I Knew You Were Waiting For Me, Michael's 1986 duet with Aretha Franklin. Teddy Swims then sang Careless Whisper, and Adam Lambert closed with Freedom! as photos of Michael rose above the stage.
However, many viewers at home criticised the performance, with Teddy Swims receiving the most backlash. One fan wrote: "Teddy Swims killed George Michael all over again. What a miss. Adam Lambert should have handled the whole damn tribute, though Raye & Sombr acquitted themselves admirably." Another said: "Think Teddy Swims connected well with the song's tale, but his voice couldn't do some of the highlights George did."
Other criticism and Dolly Parton tribute
Sombr also faced criticism, with one comment reading: "Sombr was so bad I'd rather listen to myself sing." Another viewer complained: "It was awful. Adam saved it. I don't know who that skinny dude was but he sucked."
The VMAs also featured a tribute to Dolly Parton, who died late last month. Kacey Musgraves performed I Will Always Love You, introduced by Parton herself in a video.
George Michael's death and legacy
George Michael died on December 25, 2016, at the age of 53. His partner, Fadi Fawaz, found him in bed at his home in Goring-on-Thames. Fadi said at the time: "We were supposed to be going for Christmas lunch. I went round there to wake him up and he was just gone, lying peacefully in bed. We don't know what happened yet. Everything had been very complicated recently, but George was looking forward to Christmas, and so was I."
In March, a coroner ruled that George died of natural causes from dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver. Dilated cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that causes it to become stretched and thin over time, affecting blood flow. It can be inherited or caused by viral infections, high blood pressure, excessive drinking, or heart valve problems.
