George Michael's HIV fears cut from BBC documentary
Pop star George Michael has asked the BBC not to broadcast an interview in which he discusses his HIV fears.
The singer spoke openly with Stephen Fry for a forthcoming documentary.
He is said to have admitted that he has not taken a test for at least three years because he fears it might be positive.
His former partner, Anselmo Feleppa, died of an Aids-related illness in 1995.
But the interview has now been removed from the programme at Michael’s request.
A spokesman for the star said: “On reflection, he felt it was too close and too personal a journey, and he asked for his contribution to be removed.
“It was too personal for Anselmo’s family to revisit.”
The BBC confirmed that the interview would not feature in the programme, Stephen Fry: HIV And Me.
When the BBC2 documentary was launched in June, BBC bosses revealed details of Michael’s conversation with Fry.
Producer Ross Wilson said: “George says he does not believe in tests. He says he finds the wait for results too harrowing and that he hasn’t had a test since at least 2004 due to his fears it might be positive.”
In the two-part programme, Fry takes an HIV test himself and examines how the disease is spreading.
There are three times as many HIV-positive Britons now as there were 10 years ago, according to the film.
