The Wanted’s Max George Says He’ll Be Spending Christmas in the Hospital Due to ‘Issues With My Heart’

The Wanted‘s Max George told fans that, unfortunately, he’ll be spending Christmas in the hospital. The 36-year-old singer posted an image of himself giving a thumbs up and smiling from a gurney on Thursday (Dec. 12) along with a lengthy message explaining his condition.

“Yesterday I felt really unwell and was taken in to hospital. Unfortunately after some tests they’ve found that I have some issues with my heart,” George wrote. “I have a lot more tests to determine the extent of the problems and what surgery I will need to get me back on my feet.”

George predicted that he was facing a “difficult few weeks,” possibly months under a doctor’s care and that “Christmas in a hospital bed wasn’t exactly what I had planned! But, as always, I’m surrounded with love and support from my wonderful partner Maisie [Smith], her family, my family and friends.. and I’m 100% in the best place.”

The singer said that though his undisclosed diagnosis was a “huge shock” and setback, he vowed to attack the ailment with everything he’s got. “I count myself very lucky that this was caught when it was,” he wrote, apologizing in advance if he bores his 370,000 followers with updates over the next few months. “[But] I’ve probably got a month in a bed and there’s not THAT much to do,” he added with a laughing crying emoji.

British boy band The Wanted –which also includes Nathan Sykes, Jay McGuiness, Siva Kaneswaran and the late Tom Parker — went on indefinite hiatus in 2014. After Parker’s death from a brain tumor in 2022 the living members reunited to re-record their song “Gold Forever” in his honor. George and Kaneswaran got together earlier this year to form The Wanted 2.0, with the duo touring the U.K. this summer, with another run of English dates planned for 2025.

See George’s post below.