Flowers, candles and messages left by well-wishers and fans in tribute outside the north London home of singer George Michael. Pic/AFP

A day after I read about George Michael’s death, I discovered a video link to an appearance he made on Oprah years ago. When she asked him what it meant to come out as gay, he spoke briefly about the challenges, but one line by him really stood out for me. It seemed perfectly synchronous to have encountered it after his death and as 2016 is ending. He said, “I don’t need the approval of people who don’t approve of me.” I was stunned by the audacity of this diktat to himself — the principle by which he chose to live his life.