Councils deny knowledge of confirmed statue tribute to Wham! star George Michael in Goring

The national media reported plans for a lifesize statue tribute to George Michael have been confirmed earlier this week.

But no one in the South Oxfordshire village – where the hit singer lived for 17 years – seems to know anything about the proposal.

Both the local and district councils confirm they have neither seen nor approved such plans, begging the question: Are careless whispers afoot in Goring?

The Wham! star was found dead at his cottage in Goring on Christmas Day in 2016, aged just 53.

Plans lodged with the local authority to construct a lifesize bronze statue near the singer’s country home five years ago became subject to intense local debate.

A spokesperson for Goring-on-Thames Parish Council confirmed the council had not been notified about this alleged latest development.

Speaking to newburytoday, they said: “Goring-on-Thames Parish Council has not received any requests or planning applications to erect a statue of George Michael.”

A spokesperson for South Oxfordshire District Council also weighed in saying: “We haven’t received a planning application for a proposed George Michael statue in Goring.”

Veteran music producer, Simon Napier-Bell, director of George Michael: Portrait of an Artist (2023) and manager of Wham! in the 1980s, also said he had “no idea” about the proposal.

“I'm sure George would hate it,” he told newburytoday.

It remains unclear where the news came from.

Thousands flocked to the village after the singer’s death.

And many still return each year to pay their respects – mostly recently to mark the singer’s 60th birthday on June 25.

Fellow artist, Elton John, honoured Michael with a moving performance of Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me during his Glastonbury set last weekend.