A mural of Wham! legend George Michael has been vandalised with homophobic slurs.
The giant painting was hit with eggs and anti-gay graffiti shortly after being unveiled.
The mural depicts the late George Michael as a saint, featuring a halo while holding a cigarette and a bottle of poppers.
Jonny Seymour, who lives in the house the mural is on, reported the incident to an Australian Senate inquiry.
He wrote on Twitter: “Dear Saint George had a visit from the vandalising NO hopers. A dozen eggs plus graffiti. Feel sorry for the eggs. Washing their sins away”.
Seymour refused to photograph the abuse as he felt it might vindicate the vandals.
In a bid to restore the mural, four strangers offered to help with cleaning up the areas.
He later said he was “in tears” as the four helpers became friends.
The homophobic attack comes mid-way through Australia’s vote on the right to marry for same-sex couples.
Voting remains open in the country until 7 November, when the government will decide how to respond to the results.
Meanwhile George Michael’s last ever interview is set to be aired in a documentary produced and directed by George himself.
The Wham! legend was filming the programme for Channel 4 in the UK when he died suddenly on Christmas Day 2016.
He finished compiling the documentary less than 36 hours before he died.
Freedom, directed by George and his friend David Austin, chronicles the making of the 1990 album Listen Without Prejudice and the subsequent legal battle with his record label.
His final song, a re-worked version of his 80s song Fantasy, was released last week with music producer Nile Rogers.
