George Michael's most incredible acts of kindness were inspired by 'hidden pain'

As a global icon and best-selling artist, George Michael and his catalogue of hits are known the the world over.

But being notoriously private in his personal life, it wasn't until after George's death in 2016 that the extent of his generosity was truly revealed. In the years since George died suddenly on Christmas Day, some of his incredible acts of kindness have been revealed by those that he helped.

From covering a stranger's IVF treatment, volunteering anonymously at a homeless shelter to being outed as as the mysterious benefactor paying for a town's Christmas lights every festive season - there were no limits to George's generosity.

On the eight year anniversary of George's death, we take a look at some of the Wham! star's most kind-hearted deeds - and the heartbreaking reason why he felt inspired to help those in need.

Lighting up his hometown at Christmas

In 2021, five years after George's death, reports emerged that outed the pop star as the mysterious donor behind one of London's most impressive Christmas light displays.

Years on from his death, George was revealed to have been responsible for keeping Highgate lit every Christmas by stumping up the cash behind the scenes. The George Michael estate is said to have kept up the annual donation ever since the singer died on Christmas Day 2016.

North London born George lived in the Highgate area until his death and is also buried in the local cemetery beside his mum Leslie and sister Melanie. After his death he was also revealed to have paid for the Highgate Christmas tree.

Working undercover at homeless shelters

After George's death, some of his colleagues at a homeless shelter came forward to reveal he had put in shifts alongside them to help out.

They explained that George had frequently visited the shelter but had begged them to keep his work there a secret.

Emilyn Mondo said on Twitter : "George Michael worked anonymously at a homeless shelter I was volunteering at. I've never told anyone, he asked we didn't. That's who he was."

Paying off strangers’ debts

A journalist revealed how George once gave a barmaid a huge tip after learning she was a student nurse in debt.

After chatting with lady at the bar George offered her a very generous £5,000 tip before making a swift exit.

Covering the cost of a woman’s IVF treatment

Hours after news of George's death broke on Christmas Day, Pointless presenter Richard Osman revealed an TV inside secret that left fans bawling.

He tweeted that George called up Channel 4's Deal or No Deal to offer to donate some money to a female contestant who had missed out on money she desperately wanted for IVF treatment after being touched by her story.

Osman tweeted: "A woman on 'Deal Or No Deal' told us she needed £15k for IVF treatment. George Michael secretly phoned the next day and gave her the £15k."

Incredibly, a woman named Lynette Gillard then replied to Richard's tweet, saying: "For many years I wondered who had donated this money, and now I know.

"Thank you. RIP George what an amazing person."

Donating to keep HIV trust running in memory of first love

In 1993, George sent a cheque for $500,000 to the Terrence Higgins Trust in memory of his first love, Anselmo Feleppa, who died at the age of 36 from HIV.

Jane Barron from the organisation later revealed that George 'personally supported' the charity behind the scenes for many years.

"George also often thought of us to kindly donate experiences and gifts that were used to raise vital funds to help us support people living with HIV.

"Along with other charities, we were grateful to benefit from the royalties of George's 1991 duet with Elton John, Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me. "His donations contributed to a vision of a world where people living with HIV live healthy lives free from prejudice and discrimination.

"Thanks to George's legacy, we are a step closer to that world and we are so grateful for his support and friendship over the years."

Hidden heartbreak behind generosity

George's unwavering generosity often came from a place of pain, his former manager claimed.

Speaking at the release of the 2022 documentary George Michael: Portrait of an Artist, director, Simon Napier-Bell, who was the manager of Wham! between 1983 and 1986, spoke about his close relationship with the singer.

Asked about George's acts of kindness, Simon pointed out that this was also part of sadness he carried.

“He was very thoughtful. Some thought he was impulsive, maybe he was. He was cleverly generous - I didn't ever see him give money to charity in a wasteful way,” he said.

“I think he felt he had more money than one should have and he lived very well. He helped a lot of people. He did extremely well and why should anyone have more money than they need. And I think that played on his mind quite a lot - a sort of guilt.

“He was keen to help anyone he came into contact with who needed immediate help. That's why when he would watch television he’d see someone who needed new glasses or a set of teeth, he’d be on the phone like a flash.

“But he knew he couldn't help everybody. He knew that when he did those things they were tokens and I think that's what upset him - because even when we are generous it's still only token generosity because it’s only going to help one or two people and not the whole world - and he had to live with that.”

Making the film, Simon recalls Stevie Wonder saying: “You can hear the pain in his voice. You can hear the cry.”

Speaking about their time travelling to America to record Careless Whispe, Simon said: "I’d said I'd be there first and I was a bit late and he had to defend himself against onlookers and was a bit tetchy.

“When your'e George Michael you shouldn't have to be at the airport alone, but he didn't want security and so it was just us to go together,” he said.

“Two girls came up and asked for his autograph and I pushed them away. George said, ‘don't push them away, they can come to have my autograph’.

“Then, five minutes later a woman came up and said, ‘can I have your autograph?’ so I let her in with George and he said" ‘I don't want this why aren't you keeping people away?’"