Brooke Shields And George Michael: Unraveling An Unexpected 80s Romance

12 Jul, 2025

The 1980s were a vibrant era, a time when pop culture icons reigned supreme and celebrity relationships often became the stuff of legend. Amidst the glitz and glamour, a lesser-known but utterly fascinating chapter unfolded between two of the decade's most recognizable faces: actress Brooke Shields and music sensation George Michael. While George Michael's later public coming out as gay brought clarity to many aspects of his personal life, Brooke Shields has, over the years, lifted the lid on her intense, youthful crush on the Wham! singer, revealing a story of hopeful romance, perceived respect, and a profound, albeit one-sided, affection.

A Glimpse into the 1980s: Two Icons Meet

In the mid-1980s, both Brooke Shields and George Michael were at the zenith of their careers. Brooke, a former child star, had transitioned into a prominent actress and supermodel, known for her striking beauty and wholesome image. George Michael, on the other hand, was dominating the music charts, first as part of the iconic duo Wham! and then as a burgeoning solo artist, captivating audiences with his soulful voice and charismatic stage presence. Their paths crossed, leading to a brief period that Brooke Shields herself initially believed was the start of something truly special.

The Child Star and the Pop Sensation

The connection between Brooke Shields and George Michael is a fascinating chapter in the lives of these two iconic figures. At the time, Shields was a young woman navigating the intense spotlight, and George Michael was a global superstar. It was a meeting of worlds, a blend of Hollywood and British pop, that sparked a significant emotional experience for Shields. She has admitted that out of all her famous dates, one of her biggest crushes was indeed on George Michael.

Brooke Shields' "One-Sided" Crush

Brooke Shields has openly discussed her feelings for George Michael, describing herself as "smitten" and "head over heels" with the musician. She genuinely believed she'd found true love when she dated the singer. Her admiration for him was profound, and she harbored a deep desire for their relationship to evolve into something serious. In fact, Shields, who famously maintained her virginity until she was 22, even wanted to lose her virginity to George Michael, highlighting the depth of her emotional investment and trust in him.

Smitten and Hopeful

Her crush on Michael was undeniable. "He was a singer, he was gorgeous, he was handsome. I was such a..." she recounted in a 2011 interview, indicating her strong attraction. The hope for a romantic future with him was palpable on her part. She saw him as a potential partner, someone with whom she could share a significant first experience.

The "Extremely Respectful" Gentleman

What made their brief "romance" particularly intriguing from Brooke's perspective was George Michael's behavior. She observed that he took things incredibly slowly, never even trying to kiss her, let alone engage in any physical intimacy. This led her to assume he was "extremely respectful" of her virginity. She was genuinely surprised when the British singer refused to have sex with her, interpreting his actions as a sign of profound chivalry and consideration for her boundaries.

In her book, and in various interviews, Shields detailed how she thought George Michael was "extremely respectful" of her virginity. The 56-year-old actress dated the late 'Careless Whisper' singer in the years before he came out, and his gentle approach was a key part of her perception of him. She believed his slow pace and lack of physical advances were purely out of deference to her. "Brooke Shields assumed George Michael - who later came out as gay - was 'extremely respectful' of her because he took things so slowly when they dated," one statement notes.

The Revelation of a Different Truth

However, as time went on and George Michael's personal life became more public, Brooke Shields gained a clearer understanding of the dynamics of their brief connection. While she had been deeply infatuated, she eventually realized that her crush on the singer "was definitely one-sided." This realization came into sharper focus when George Michael publicly came out as gay during an interview on CNN in 1998.

His coming out shed a new light on his "respectful" behavior during their dates. What Brooke had perceived as chivalry towards her virginity was, in retrospect, more likely a reflection of his own sexual orientation. It wasn't that he was unwilling to be intimate with her out of respect for her purity, but rather because his attractions lay elsewhere. This understanding, while perhaps initially disappointing for her youthful hopes, ultimately provided a more accurate and compassionate explanation for his actions.

Unpacking the "Romance" Through Time

Brooke Shields has been remarkably open about this period of her life, sharing details in various forums over the years. Her willingness to discuss such a personal and initially misunderstood experience offers valuable insight into her journey and the complexities of celebrity relationships.

Brooke's Public Revelations

Shields has discussed her brief, decades-ago "romance" with Michael in interviews dating back to 2011, and most notably in her 2014 book, "There Was a Little Girl: The Real Story of My Mother and Me." In her memoir, she further elaborated on her crush and the dynamics of their dates. Her accounts consistently paint a picture of a young woman deeply smitten and hopeful, interpreting George Michael's actions through the lens of her own desires and societal expectations of male-female relationships at the time.

She has consistently stated that he never even tried to kiss her, reinforcing her perception of his extreme respect. This candidness has allowed fans and the public to understand a unique aspect of both her personal history and George Michael's life before he fully embraced his identity publicly.

George Michael's Perspective (Briefly)

While Brooke Shields has provided extensive detail from her side, George Michael himself also briefly recalled their date. A TikTok video from @georgemichaelonline even features a clip of him discussing his date with actress Brooke Shields on an episode of #BehindtheMusic. This confirms that the connection, however brief and one-sided romantically for him, was a notable enough encounter for him to recall publicly.

It's important to remember that while Michael publicly came out as gay in 1998, he was also romantically linked to some women prior to that. His reported romance with Brooke Shields is indeed one of his most notable, even if it was ultimately defined by her unrequited affection and his respectful distance. His primary long-term relationships, as publicly known, were with men like Anselmo Feleppa, Kenneth Goss, and Fadi Fawaz, which underscores the unique nature of his interaction with Shields.

A Fascinating Chapter in Pop Culture History

The relationship between Brooke Shields and George Michael, though not a conventional romance, remains a fascinating chapter in the lives of two iconic figures of the 1980s and 1990s. Their connection transcended a simple date, becoming a poignant anecdote that speaks volumes about personal growth, self-discovery, and the public perception of celebrity lives.

It highlights how individuals interpret interactions based on their own hopes and understanding, and how later revelations can reframe past experiences. For Brooke Shields, it was a youthful crush on a handsome and talented singer, a period where she believed she'd found something profound. For George Michael, it was likely a polite encounter, handled with a kindness that, unbeknownst to Shields at the time, stemmed from a deeper truth about his identity.

In summary, the story of Brooke Shields' crush on George Michael is a compelling blend of youthful infatuation, misinterpretation born from societal norms, and the eventual clarity brought by personal truth. Brooke Shields was deeply smitten and hoped for true love, even wishing to lose her virginity to him, interpreting his gentle demeanor as profound respect. However, as George Michael later came out as gay, it became clear that her intense crush was one-sided, and his "respectful" distance was likely due to his sexual orientation. This brief, unrequited "romance" remains a unique and memorable anecdote, offering a glimpse into the complex personal lives of two beloved pop culture icons from the 1980s.

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