George Michael's Family Reacts to Outpouring of Grief, Thanks Fans for Celebrating His 'Life and Legacy'

George Michael's family is thankful for the outpouring of support they've received since the singer's unexpected death on Sunday.

A rep for the family tells ET that they have been "touched beyond words" by the public's love for the "Faith" singer throughout "this most distressing of times."

"The family and close friends of George have been touched beyond words by the incredible outpouring of love for him in the hours and days since his death," the statement reads. "For someone whose life was ultimately about his music and the love he had for his family and friends, his fans and the world at large, there could be no more fitting tribute than the many, many, kind words that have been said and the numerous plays his records have received."

"Contrary to some reports, there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death and from the bottom of our hearts we thank those who, rightly, have chosen to celebrate his life and legacy at this most distressing of times," the statement concludes. 

Michael died of heart failure in his sleep at his country home in London, England, on Sunday. His manager confirmed to ET at the time that the singer had not been ill.

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In a new interview on Tuesday, Michael's boyfriend, Fadi Fawaz, who discovered the singer's dead body, revealed more details on his death, saying that he and Michael had plans for lunch that day.

"We were supposed to be going for Christmas lunch. I went round there to wake him up and he was just gone, lying peacefully in bed," Fawaz, who had been romantically linked to Michael for the past few years, told The Daily Telegraph. "We don't know what happened yet."

"Everything had been very complicated recently, but George was looking forward to Christmas, and so was I," he added. "Now everything is ruined. I want people to remember him the way he was -- he was a beautiful person."

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See more in the video below.

George Michael's Boyfriend Fadi Fawaz Says He Found Singer Dead in Bed on Christmas

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