Sarah Michelle Gellar awkwardly mixes up her '80s icons in George Michael tribute

In an epic Twitter fail Sarah Michelle Gellar managed to mix up her 80s singers – and told her 556,000 twitter followers Boy George had died.

The 39-year-old actress wrote: “Do you really want to hurt me?

“I guess you do 2016 – #ripboygeorge.

“I was truly one of your biggest fans.”

Fans on the social media site where quick to point out her mix up with Gellar, who played teen vampire killer Buffy in the hit 90s show, quickly trying to fix her mistake.

She added: “Just as sad when you get the correct information- #ripGeorgeMichael thank you to everyone who corrected me- it's still so sad

“And for the record yes I completely know the difference between Boy George and George Michael- I heard incorrectly. My intentions were good.

“This is usually why I don't comment on public matters, but it all seemed so sad on Christmas.

“Lesson learned.”

Some jumped to the starlet’s defence, saying she had made an honest mistake and had taken it well.

One said: "Mistakes happen. Don't let others make you feel guilty for caring”.