UK pop star George Michael's appearance in new BBC documentary Stephen Fry: HIV and Me has been removed at his request. During an interview in which the pop star was asked about his personal experiences relating to HIV, George commented that he does not do tests and hasn't had one since 2004 because he fears the results. Host Stephen Fry then disagrees with him and takes a HIV test, which is negative, there and then to make his point. At George's request the BBC has now removed his contribution to the documentary. In 1995 Anselmo Feleppa a former boyfriend of the star died of an AIDS related illness, and this has been given as the reason for the withdrawal from the programme. A spokesperson for George told the BBC: "On reflection, he felt it was too close and too personal a journey. "It was too personal for Anselmo's family to revisit." In the documentary Stephen Fry talks to people from all walks of life, including a 16-year old girl who has been HIV positive since birth and a grandmother with HIV. The first part of Stephen Fry: HIV and Me will be broadcast on the UK's BBC2 on Tuesday 2nd October. The two-party documentary has been made to mark the 25th anniversary of the Terrence Higgins Trust HIV/AIDS charity. Andy Bell of Erasure and Scissor Sister Ana Matronic are also participating in the documentary. Ref: Pinknews.co.uk (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Friday, 21st September 2007 - 9:13am