A family row has broken out over some of George Michael’s possessions going to auction, including the guitar he used in the iconic ‘Faith’ music video. The collection, which also included gold and platinum records, tour programmes, and personal letters, originated from the estate of the singer’s long-time personal assistant, Siobhan Bailey, who worked with Michael for two decades starting in 1984.

Bailey passed away in 2014 without a will, causing her estate—including the memorabilia—to pass to her estranged husband, Ian Belcher. Belcher proceeded to auction the items at Sworders on Thursday, October 29. The decision sparked significant backlash from Siobhan’s brother, Gerard, who attempted to halt the sale. He argued that his late sister would have been “horrified at the prospect of it being held in her name,” asserting that the items were her cherished personal possessions.

Gerard claimed that had his sister not died unexpectedly, she would have bequeathed the items to her nieces and nephews rather than her husband, from whom she was in the process of divorcing at the time of her death. Despite these objections, the auction proceeded. Reports indicate that Gerard wrote to the auction house, labeling the event a “breach of her privacy” and a “misuse of my sister’s name.”

Sworders auctioneer Guy Schooling defended the sale, telling Guitarist that the items could not remain in storage indefinitely and risked deterioration. The most notable piece, the guitar Michael played in the 1987 ‘Faith’ music video, significantly exceeded its pre-auction estimate of £60,000 to £120,000, ultimately selling for £180,000. Other items, including a gold disc for Wham!’s ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go’ and a signed copy of Queen’s ‘Five Live’ EP, also fetched substantial sums.

The controversy arrives as the legacy of George Michael continues to be celebrated. Earlier this year, his former bandmate Andrew Ridgeley reflected on the timeless nature of Michael’s songwriting. Furthermore, fans can look forward to the release of George Michael: The Faith Tour, a documentary featuring long-lost footage from his 1988 Paris show, arriving in cinemas on November 6.