Boy George loses role in musical after releasing song in support of Israel
The singer's manager announced his withdrawal from the London production of "Jesus Christ Superstar," where he was set to perform next month, following intense backlash over his song "We Will Dance Again." "I felt it was right to step aside," the manager stated.
Singer Boy George released a song this week in support of Israel titled We Will Dance Again, created with the help of artificial intelligence. The track sparked significant controversy, and now George is facing professional consequences for taking a stance contrary to the prevailing sentiment in the cultural world. His manager, Paul Kemsley, announced on Friday night that the singer is withdrawing from the production of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, in which he was scheduled to star on London stages starting next month.
"The decision was made out of maximum respect for the producers, the creative team, and the entire cast," Kemsley wrote. Boy George was set to play King Herod starting in August. While Kemsley did not specify the exact reasons for the departure, he noted:
"Boy George has never been afraid to stand behind his personal positions, and I have always respected him for that."
"By the same token, I believe it is my responsibility to make decisions that are in the best interest of my artist, while simultaneously showing respect toward others," Kemsley added. "In this case, I felt it was right to step aside, allow the production to remain the focus, and ensure that everyone involved can move forward with mutual respect and goodwill."
Boy George shared We Will Dance Again on social media just days before the announcement. Earlier in the week, he confirmed on Threads that the song was created using artificial intelligence, calling it "AI for good" and noting that he would have struggled to write it with a human collaborator. Last month, Boy George told The Hollywood Reporter that he uses AI to re-record his hits to gain ownership of them.
The song, built on a reggae beat, features Boy George speaking out against those who label the war in Gaza a genocide. He also criticizes musicians who have expressed support for Palestine, claiming they are "bleating like sheep to propaganda fed by the internet."
"You say genocide, I say war, when you are attacked, that is what an army is for. Does it get ugly? Of course it does, when I know you want to kill every single one of us."
Later in the song, he addresses the lack of conversation surrounding October 7, singing about "young girls raped in front of trees, brutally murdered for the crime of dancing," and accusing critics of having "selective memory" regarding Jews.
Actor Patrick Clanton, who performed alongside Boy George in Moulin Rouge, was among those who criticized the song, calling Boy George a "terrible actor" and stating, "I was embarrassed to be in a show with him."
Boy George replied on Threads: "I barely remember you, well done on getting some media attention on my back, because at any other time you would barely get a sentence." On the same day, he addressed the broader criticism on X:
"When will you realize that you are doing nothing! It's a fucking joke. I'm even falling out with Jewish friends. The madness knows no bounds."
