George Michael shuts door on own chat room

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.

“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.

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