Slammer time: Beleaguered singer George Michael has reportedly been placed in solitary confinement for his own safety after being taunted by prisoners on arrival at a London prison.
George, (real name Georgios Panayiotou), was sentenced this week to two months in prison stemming from his July bust for driving while under the influence of marijuana.
The singer crashed his Range Rover into a Snappy Snaps photography store in North London in July, and was busted for driving under the influence of drugs.
George was placed in a high-risk unit at Pentonville Prison, North London, on Tuesday, along with rapists and paedophiles. It is expected he will spend only four weeks in custody.
Cheering reportedly broke out at the jail when inmates found out that the Freedom star was about to join them in the slammer. But the cheering soon turned to jeering, and George - aka prisoner A8365AW - has now been placed in a segregated unit after prison governors decided it was too risky to put him in with other inmates.
A prison snitch said: "Governors want to move George from Pentonville as soon as possible as he is not the right type of inmate for that sort of jail.
"He is currently in a segregation cell because his high profile makes him a target for any thug who wants to make a name for himself. Unfortunately, because he has committed a drug offence, the options are limited.
"He will have to go to another closed prison and that means a lot more stress for him."
'Guilty George has got no freedom'
The shamed singer was reportedly in tears when he was first locked inside his cell. And he really packed a sad when inmates started serenading him with twisted versions of his own hits when he arrived at the facility.
An inmate tells the Mirror: "As soon as he arrived some of the prisoners burst into a rendition of Freedom.
"And when he was taken to shower they sang 'Guilty George has got no freedom' to the tune of Careless Whisper. He is sulking. He's wearing prison-issue tracksuit bottoms and a T-shirt but doesn't have any shoes on.
"When the cells were unlocked in the morning he just sat there and refused to come out.
"Everyone was peering out of their windows overlooking the exercise yard expecting to see him but he didn't show."
One inmate told The Sun newspaper: "When he went to use a payphone in the communal area he was hunched over it - distraught and in tears. He was whispering and very emotional."
Joao Sena, a con who was released from Pentonville yesterday, tells the Mirror George was strip-searched before being taken to the high-security wing.
He said: "He is in the G1 wing, which is for sex offenders and people who have committed serious crimes. Everyone was shouting. They said: 'Where's George Michael - bring George Michael'. Everyone was just cheering.
"It's not tough in there, but for someone who hasn't been there before it can be hard. You are strip searched when you go in, they check for mobile phones and things like that.
"He is going to have to wait 48 hours for a visit and I think the officers are going to be around him all the time. Every time he moves he is going to have extra security.
"I don't think anyone will give him a hard time though. They are excited to have a celebrity here."
But despite being slammed-up, inmates are complaining that the singer is getting special treatment after being locked up in a cell dubbed 'The Ritz'.
A snitch said: "It's the best cell in the whole prison. It has duvets, cushions, even its own digital TV box.
"He's being treated like a king and has guards swarming all over him."
Protection money
Meanwhile, reports claim George is facing demands from jail heavies for protection money. According to tabloid the Daily Star, enterprising cons are "demanding he pay them £10,000 a week to protect him in the showers".
Oh, I was wondering how long it'd be before we went there.
According to the tabloid, George "has been warned he is a prime target for a beating, or worse, and prison gangs have told him he may already have had his Last Christmas."
Ooh, and planned promotion for the re-release of his album Faith has apparently been scrapped by his record label Sony.
A source said: "They [Sony] had set aside a large budget and wanted George to do a lot of work backing it up. They couldn't promote it after what happened in court.
"There's been a scramble to recoup all the effort and money that has gone into this."
Cobblers. His jail stint will bolster his sales if anything.
Chin up, George. Four weeks and you'll be out of the pokey. Just stay out of trouble and don't talk to any strange men.
And look on the bright side. A slew of celebs have come out to support you. Well, Mark Wahlberg at least. He's praying for you, mate.
He says, "I was 16 when I went to prison but he's been busted a couple of times. He should get a driver or go to Amsterdam where pot is legal. But my heart goes out (to) anyone who goes to prison. I pray for him."
See you on the other side, Georgie.
Brit calls BS
Rumour control: Britney Spears has not put a ring on it, y'all.
Rumours were swirling that her boyfriend Jason Trawick had popped the question during their Hawaiian getaway last month.
"EXCLUSIVE: We Hear Britney Spears's BF, Jason Trawick, Asked Her to Marry Him & She Said Yes!" boomed a certain gossip blog.
Complete bulls***, says Brit Brit, tackling the pesky rumour on her official website.
The pop marvel loaded the blog post on her website, emblazoned with the words "BS ALERT!"
Word is Brit Brit and her man did check out a wedding chapel in Maui, but they were doing research for some mates who are about to get hitched.
Seriously, why can't people just...
*Warning: Contains swearing.
Pathetic brat
Project Runway
mentor
