Singer George Michael is amused critics brand him "tragic" - insisting he sees nothing wrong with smoking crack cocaine and cruising public toilets for gay sex.

The Faith hitmaker was arrested on London's Hampstead Heath last year after police found drugs in his possession.

Now, the star admits it was deadly crack cocaine he had on his person, but doesn't see the harm in using the dangerous narcotic sporadically.

When quizzed by the Guardian newspaper over whether he was using the drug at that time, he replies, "Was I? On that occasion, yeah."

He adds, "I've done many different things that I shouldn't have done, once or twice. Of course. Nobody wants to regularly smoke crack."

And the star can't see the prblem with his habits, taking a swipe at his pal Sir Elton John for trying to help him conquer his demons.

He says, "People want to see me as tragic with all the cottaging and drug-taking. I don't see them as weaknesses any more. It's just who I am.

"Elton (John) will not be happy until I bang on his door in the middle of the night saying, 'Please, please, help me, Elton. Take me to rehab.' It's not going to happen."