George responds to media backlash

George Michael has blamed the Murdoch press for the reaction to his latest single ‘Shoot The Dog’. In a web chat with fans he said: “I'm probably the biggest celebrity to have sided (perhaps foolishly) with The Daily Mirror in recent years and I seem to be paying the price for it. Not that I think it wasn't worth it. This situation is more important than any record or any attack on me and I didn't go into this with my eyes closed. I had a feeling I would get caught in the Sun / Mirror war zone but it never occurred to me that Murdoch's other publications, specifically the New York Post, would misrepresent myself or the reaction of the American people in general so enormously". The song, against Tony Blair’s willingness to follow American into war in the Middle East without consulting the UK electorate, is released in Europe this week. The video in particular, which features Tony Blair as George W. Bush’s lapdog, caused media outrage, especially in America. But George claims he is cool with the reaction to the song. He continued: "Anyone who has a problem with the cross between pop and politics should look at the politics first and the ridiculous media response second. The truth is the argument has been strengthened and if the record comes in at 56 it will have done its job".