George Michael
speaks out about drug arrest

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)