The 49-year-old faced accusations that he was trying to plug the track at Sunday's (August 12) Olympic celebration, which was viewed by a peak of 26.2m people in the UK.
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However, a representative for the former Wham! singer has insisted that Michael chose to perform 'White Light' as it is "a celebration of being alive" and felt appropriate following his life-threatening battle with pneumonia at the end of 2011.
"George wanted to perform his new single because it reflected everything he has been through in the last year," the spokesperson told the Daily Mail.
"The song is a celebration of being alive because he was so close to death last year. It was his decision to perform a song from the past and song for the present."
They added to The Telegraph: "He wanted to perform it for fans... it seemed quite appropriate. He doesn't need to plug his new single - it was just nice for him to sing it.
"It's a bit of a shame that it's got this response because he was so excited to perform it."
Michael recently declared that he aims to release a new album "very soon".
Photo gallery - London 2012 Closing Ceremony:
Copyright: Tony Marshall/PA Wire/Press Association Images
