The ‘red flag’ night worse-for-wear Wanted star Max George confided his devastation to me, reveals KATIE HIND, as friends tell what they blame for his health woes
As I delve deeper into the captivating narrative of Max from The Wanted, it’s hard not to be intrigued by his rollercoaster journey. From humble beginnings in Swinton to the dizzying heights of stardom, his life has been a whirlwind of success and struggle.
On a pleasant autumn evening in October 2014, I encountered the somewhat refreshed member of the boyband, Max George, at Hollywood’s Sunset Strip. We ran into each other inside Rock & Reilly’s, an upscale yet shabby Irish pub and eatery. It was evident that The Wanted’s frontman was having difficulty maintaining his balance and speaking clearly.
In the past, the Mancunian celeb aspired to break into Hollywood acting, with the belief that his British accent and charisma would win over American audiences, much like others who had attempted it previously.
max, who was 26 at the time, found the task not immediately productive. As a result, he opted to spend his evenings socializing in various towns.
As the night progressed, things became increasingly noisy. Moreover, Max was in such a state of intoxication that I escorted him away from the staircase, as he seemed unsteady and might have fallen.
To clarify, he mentioned that he was in Los Angeles during the audition period. I advised him to depart from the establishment since it was a well-known spot, frequented even by Jason Statham, and there were rumors that it belonged to former Tottenham Hotspur player Robbie Keane (who happened to be playing for LA Galaxy at the time).
Reflecting upon that instance now, I can’t help but wonder if it served as a warning sign for him, the iconic pop idol who once ruled the hearts of many. The Wanted had taken a break in January 2014, and Max was an ever-present figure in London’s vibrant nightclub circuit.
He confided in me that he was distraught that The Wanted had recently gone their separate ways. He had also not long before split from his fiancee, actress Michelle Keegan. He was devastated – and it made me question whether he was using alcohol to alleviate his hurt.
It appears now that Max has unfortunately fallen prey to the typical fate of boybands: swallowed and discarded by the music industry juggernaut, leading him into the grasp of alcohol addiction.
The memory of our 2014 encounter resurfaced when he posted a photo of himself from his hospital bed on Thursday night.
Max, aged 36, recently shared on Instagram that he will be having a significant heart operation following a shocking trip to the emergency room. To his nearly 370,000 followers.
Regardless of him needing surgery around Christmas, causing him to stay at the hospital during the holiday season, he gave a thumbs up and informed his audience that he feels extremely fortunate, yet admitted that the situation came as an immense surprise to him.
Hi there! I want to share something that happened to me yesterday. I wasn’t feeling well at all, so I had to go to the hospital. Sadly, some examinations revealed that there might be some problems with my heart.
I’ll need to conduct several additional examinations to fully understand the scope of the issues and which surgical procedure is necessary for my recovery.
‘It’s gonna be a difficult few weeks/months… and Christmas in a hospital bed wasn’t exactly what I had planned! But, as always, I’m surrounded with love and support by my wonderful partner Maisie, her family, my family and friends… and I’m 100 per cent in the best place. Although this is a huge shock and no doubt a setback, it’s something I’ll take on with all I’ve got! I count myself very lucky that this was caught when it was.’
Additionally heartbreaking is the fact that Max’s health struggle arises merely two years following the demise of his The Wanted bandmate, Tom Parker, due to a brain tumor.
After the passing of his friend, Max decided to stop consuming alcohol, acknowledging that he struggled with an issue and often relied on it as a means to manage his anxiety.
However, those close to him express concern that his prolonged celebrity and socializing may have played a role in the hardships he faces today.
Back then, being a showbiz reporter, I frequently crossed paths with the boyband consisting of Max, Tom, Siva Kaneswaran, Jay McGuiness, and Nathan Sykes. This group was at the peak of their popularity from 2010 to 2012, delivering numerous chart-topping hits like All Time Low and Glad You Came during that timeframe.
Max was always the loud, cheeky one.
Surprisingly, during an evening meeting with the guys to discuss our upcoming single, Max said something rather outrageous regarding my looks. I attributed his comment to the possibility that he may have been under the influence.
The band residing collectively in a chic flat within the vibrant East London district of Shoreditch, attended showbiz functions each evening.
Previously, Max excitedly shared with me that during his relationship with Michelle (who was acting on Coronation Street), he audaciously proposed to the show’s producers if The Wanted could hold a concert at the Rovers Return pub. His bandmates reportedly reacted in shock and disbelief at his seemingly absurd proposal.
Friends claim that, upon achieving stardom in 2009 following Justin Bieber’s manager, renowned music executive Scooter Braun, selecting him as one of five singers for the band, he acted like a child in a candy store with endless treats.
After all, Max had a very normal upbringing in the Manchester suburb of Swinton.
In his teen years, he harbored ambitions of turning professional in football. However, his hopes were dashed when he missed out on a contract offer from Preston North End.
So his foray into music gave him some much-needed direction.
As he rose in stature, Max quickly earned himself a reputation as a ladies’ man.
He and Michelle dated for over a year before getting engaged. When they split, he was linked to the likes of actresses Lindsay Lohan and Carmen Electra and The Only Way is Essex star Lucy Mecklenburgh. After dating footballer Ryan Giggs’s ex wife Stacey, he is now in a relationship with Maisie Smith, the EastEnders actress he met while starring on Strictly in 2020 who, aged 23, is 13 years his junior.
According to a friend of his, Max adored being part of a boyband because it gave him all the things a young man might desire, explains the friend.
It appears enticing because it’s enjoyable in the moment, but in truth, the potential harm it causes can be immense.
Read More
- MANA PREDICTION. MANA cryptocurrency
- LDO PREDICTION. LDO cryptocurrency
- TRUMP PREDICTION. TRUMP cryptocurrency
- The end of Superhero TV on broadcast may usher in an era that leaves a generation behind
- SDEX PREDICTION. SDEX cryptocurrency
- CTC PREDICTION. CTC cryptocurrency
- Rob McElhenney reveals Deadpool & Wolverine cameo was cut
- Doctor Who and Torchwood stars return for spinoff War Between The Land And The Sea
- The Repair Shop announces exciting new show
- Silver Rate Forecast
2024-12-14 04:48