The respect of a former frenemy.
Boy George took a moment during Tuesday's Watch What Happens Live! to remember the life of his former musical rival, George Michael. The 55-year-old pop star was asked several fan questions about the late singer, and didn't hesitate to get candid about their complicated relationship.
"In the early days we were competition to each other. We were both called George, we both made soul music, so in the early days we were really in competition," Boy George explained. "Then sort of later on, I started to really appreciate what he was as a musician, right around 'Faith,' I started to really appreciate his talent."
As the years went on, Boy George said he would stay in touch with Michael "on and off," but that he was "not really" aware of the singer's reported struggles with substance abuse. "I read stuff in the papers, obviously, but I never knew, kind of, really, he kind of kept people out. He was quite private so I didn't really know much about what was going on," the "Karma Chameleon" singer admitted.
One fan asked if Boy George had really feuded with Michael -- who died on Christmas Day at age 53 -- over him not wanting to come out, and whether the pair had made peace. "Yes, we did," he replied, clarifying that it was "not really a feud."
"In the '80s, everywhere, Pete Burns, me, we all used to like, be really b**chy about each other. It was like the thing that you did in the '80s," he added. "Now it's a bit more respectful, but in the '80s you just said foul things about everyone."
The "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" singer also opened up about first being introduced to Michael Jackson's daughter, Paris, and how he regrets never meeting the King of Pop himself. "I told her that she was very beautiful and I told her that her dad was amazing, said that I never met him," he recalled. "It was one of my big sorrows that I never got to meet him."
Continuing to gush over Paris, Boy George added, "She was lovely, she's such a lovely girl."