George Michael has died, aged 53

According to his publicist, the 53-year-old singer - who rose to fame in the 1980s with Wham! and became a defining figure in pop music throughout the '80s and '90s - "passed away peacefully at home". Michael Lippman his manager, later clarified that Michael had died of heart failure.

Michael was one of the UK's most high profile figures for gay rights and fronted a TV documentary - Staying Alive - about HIV in the same year he came out.

Elton John was among the first of Michael's friends and collaborators to pay tribute, calling him "a generous soul and a brilliant artist".

I am in deep shock. I have lost a beloved friend - the kindest, most generous soul and a brilliant artist. My heart goes out to his family, friends and all of his fans. @GeorgeMichael #RIP

A photo posted by Elton John (@eltonjohn) on Dec 25, 2016 at 3:24pm PST

Chairlift's Caroline Polacheck commented:

But perhaps Run the Jewels' El-P put it best: