George battles BBC over T-shirt
By CNN's Jane Picken
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George Michael says he was told to remove his T-shirt.
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LONDON, England -- Shots of musicians wearing anti-war T-shirts may have to be cut from a television performance by George Michael on one of the UK's most popular music shows.
The 39-year-old singer performed a cover of Don McLean's "The Grave" on the BBC's music show "Top of the Pops." His cellists sported T-shirts with the logo "No War, Blair Out," referring to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The BBC said the T-shirts were in breach of the broadcaster's impartiality guidelines. But editors are still deciding whether to omit shots showing the T-shirts before the show is broadcast Friday night.
"Top of the Pops is about music not politics," said a spokeswoman. "We can't be seen to be promoting anyone's political views."
Michael, who has not appeared on the veteran music show since 1986, was to perform McLean's anti-war song in one of the Katherine Hamnett slogan T-shirts, but says he was asked to change.
The BBC denies asking Michael to take his T-shirt off, and says the performance went ahead "perfectly well." But Michael's spokesperson told the Press Association that he was very upset at not being able to wear the T-shirt.
The singer has courted political controversy in the past. The video for his single "Shoot the Dog" featured Blair as a poodle on the White House lawn.
At last month's Brit Awards, George Michael performed an anti-war version of his hit "Faith" with R&B star Ms Dynamite, featuring the lyrics "I don't want blood on my hands."
George Michael's latest recording marks a rise in protests against a possible war in Iraq from the entertainment industry.
Last month, a coalition of musicians unveiled a full-page advertisement in The New York Times to rally against U.S. President George W. Bush's war plans. The featured petition contained signatures from musicians including Missy Elliot, Dave Matthews and Massive Attack.
Music channel MTV is due to premiere the anti-war video of Madonna's new single "American Life" this month, which contains violent battle scenes.
