Pop star George
Michael admitted on Monday that his weekend arrest on
suspicion of possessing drugs had been his "own stupid
fault, as usual." The 42-year-old British singer was
taken into custody early on Sunday at Hyde Park Corner
in central London after a member of the public called
police to investigate a man slumped over the wheel of his
car. Police said he had been held on suspicion of possessing
class C drugs, a group that according to British law
includes cannabis, tranquilizers, and some
painkillers.
"It's my own
stupid fault, as usual," Michael said in a statement.
"I was in possession of class C drugs, which is an
offense, and I have no complaints about the police, who were
professional throughout." Michael added that he was
tested by a police doctor who determined him
capable of driving himself home. In fact, Michael was
given a lift by a duty solicitor because his car was
accidentally immobilized by police. He was bailed on the
condition that he return to a police station in
late March pending a police investigation.
Michael has sold
more than 80 million records throughout his career and
enjoyed as much fame as a solo artist as he did as front man
of the band Wham! It was not his first brush with the
law. Michael was arrested in April 1998 for engaging
in a "lewd act" in a public toilet in Beverly Hills,
Calif., after which he ended years of speculation over his
sexuality by announcing that he is gay. The creator of hits,
including "Last Christmas" and "Careless Whisper,"
wrote the song "Outside" and based the accompanying
video on the infamous public restroom incident.
On this occasion,
though, he vowed musical silence: "P.S. I promise I
won't make a record out of this one--even though it's
tempting." (Reuters)
