George Michael shuts door on own chat room

Singer offended by comments calling him old, overweight

updated 1:55 p.m. ET July 8, 2004

LONDON - George Michael might have expected some praise from adoring fans when he set up a chat room on his Web site.

Instead, contributors complained the 41-year-old looked old and overweight and criticized his recent music, prompting the pop singer to announce Thursday he is shutting down the forum.

In a message posted on his site, Michael said the negativity was bad for him, his fans and his music.

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“Those of you that want to carry on the media’s work will have to do it somewhere else I suppose,” he wrote.

He signed off: “Sorry guys, but that’s the way it goes. ... Peace and Love ... or nothing at all.”

The decision prompted a flurry of postings, mostly from supportive fans asking Michael to reconsider.

However, a few deemed the decision unfair and Michael a “control freak.”

“It’s a fans’ forum, it’s freedom of speech and I don’t think it’s down to George to take his ball home and say, ‘I’m not playing any more,”’ one fan wrote.