George Michael: I'm Not Ashamed

LONDON, UK -- George Michael denies rumors that the planned wedding with his long-time partner Kenny Goss has been cancelled. The singer says that his lover does not mind him having sex with strangers, referring specifically to the incident in London's Hampstead Heath last week when he was caught in the act with another man by the British tabloid News of The World.

In a phone interview with British TV chat show hosts Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan yesterday, Michael said: "I've got no issue with cruising. I've talked about it many times. It's never been an issue between us. We had a lovely tenth anniversary party. My present to him was a million quid so I think I should get away with so-called fooling around with 'Bernard Manning'. I've no idea who that guy was but thank-you very much, whoever he was."

George, who has just sold out a 50-date concert tour within 30 minutes, said: "The truth is, I have no issues at all with cruising. They (the press) use words like 'shame' - but that means the person involved has to be ashamed of their actions - and I'm not at all."

Reports had suggested that Goss had cancelled the couple's upcoming wedding, but Michael insists the ceremony is still on. Michael said: "We knew with all the rubbish between us that we couldn't get a private wedding, so we have postponed it. I don't want people to think my life is troubled when it's not. I'm a man who has been successful for 25 years."