British pop star George Michael has attacked fellow Englishman Elton John over comments he made about the ex-Wham star's private life and career.

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Last month John told an interviewer for the magazine Heat Michael needed to "get out more" because he was "in a strange place," the Daily Mirror reported Wednesday.

This month, in the same magazine, Michael responded.

"Elton John knows nothing about George Michael, and that's a fact. Most of what Elton thinks he knows about my life is pretty much limited to the gossip he hears on what you would call the 'gay grapevine.'"

The full quote to which Michael was responding actually included some complimentary words from John.

"He's one of the most talented people I've ever met," John said of Michael. "And I love him as a friend, so I have to be careful what I say. So all I would say to George is: You should get out more. It upsets me because he won't perform live.