RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Boy George, the iconic frontman of Culture Club and veteran pop star, has officially withdrawn from his upcoming engagement in the West End revival of Jesus Christ Superstar amid furious backlash over his new AI-assisted pro-Israel track.
The 65-year-old musician was scheduled to take the stage as King Herod for a limited two-week run at the London Palladium beginning August 3, sharing the rotating role alongside high-profile British performers including Richard Armitage, Layton Williams, and Julian Clary in the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber production.
However, after days of mounting controversy, public criticism from former artistic collaborators, and calls for boycotts, his management intervened to remove him from the lineup.
The intense backlash erupted after Boy George posted the unreleased pop-reggae track titled "Od Nirkod (We Will Dance Again)" on his X account, accompanied by the caption "#Shalom."
The track directly addresses the military conflict in Gaza, taking a staunchly pro-Israel stance while rejecting international accusations of genocide levied against the Israeli government by bodies such as Human Rights Watch and the United Nations. Critics and human rights advocates quickly pointed out that the singer's dismissal of the humanitarian crisis—where tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians and children have been killed—was deeply insensitive and inflammatory.
Online reaction to the track was swift and severe, with fans, activists, and prominent industry figures issuing scathing public statements against the singer.
Martyn Ware, founder of the seminal synth-pop groups The Human League and Heaven 17 and a long-time peer of Boy George, publicly blasted his "old friend" on X, writing that he could not believe George had produced an "overtly pro-genocide, anti-Palestinian piece of musical propaganda.
"George, you should be ashamed - I hope you think the money was enough to sell your soul… vile," he added.
Similarly, Patrick Clanton, a Broadway actor who performed alongside Boy George in Moulin Rouge! The Musical , publicly denounced him on social media, writing that he was embarrassed to have shared a stage with the singer and describing him as a terrible performer.
"You know, I used to defend his performance in our show, but f-ck it... He was a terrible performer and I was embarrassed to be in the show with him," he wrote.
Artists for Palestine UK issued a sharp public response to The New Arab , stating that Boy George’s track "reveals a profound lack of empathy for the immense suffering and slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza." They accused him of using his platform to "minimize and deny well-documented atrocities."
Boy George pushed back against the wave of vitriol on his official X account, writing: "It doesn't matter what I think or what you think. When will you realize you're doing NOTHING! It's a f**king joke. I am even falling out with Jewish friends. The madness knows no bounds."
The track, titled "Od Nirkod (We Will Dance Again)", is an AI-assisted reggae-style song centered on the October 7 Hamas attack at the Supernova music festival, borrowing its Hebrew title from the rallying phrase that emerged in Israel following the tragedy. Rather than releasing the track on traditional streaming platforms, the singer posted it directly to social media, using the lyrics to challenge criticisms of Israel's military campaign.
In the opening lines, he sings, "You say genocide / I say war / When you're attacked / That's what the army's for / Does it get ugly? / You bet it does / When I know you want to kill / Every last one of us."
The song goes on to explicitly target fellow musicians and activists participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations and cultural boycotts.
"You condemn the Jews / With selective memory / Musicians holding flags / Mouthing like sheep / Propaganda fueled by the internet / Feels so weak," he sang.
Paul Kemsley, Boy George's long-time manager, released an official statement confirming the singer's withdrawal from the London Palladium production. Kemsley made it clear that the decision was a managerial call intended to protect the interests of both the artist and the musical itself amid the overwhelming negative attention.
"After careful consideration, I have decided, in my capacity as Boy George's manager, that he will no longer be appearing in Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium," Kemsley stated.
"George has never been afraid to stand by his personal convictions, and I have always respected him for that. Equally, I believe it is my responsibility to make decisions that are in the best interests of my artist while also showing respect to others. In this instance, I felt it was right to step aside, allowing the production to remain the focus, while ensuring everyone involved can move forward with mutual respect and goodwill."
Boy George is not Jewish. Born George Alan O'Dowd in London, the singer was raised in a large Irish Catholic family in Eltham.
Despite his Catholic upbringing, Boy George has long maintained close personal ties to the Jewish community and has been a vocal opponent of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement within the arts. Earlier this year, at a Eurovision event in London, the singer publicly defended his stance regarding his personal relationships and his refusal to boycott Israeli events, stating that he has had close Jewish friends since he was 15 years old and would never turn his back on them regardless of political pressure.
Herod Richard Armitage will cover Boy George’s performance dates, according to WhatsOnStage. The show will run until Saturday, September 5, 2026.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Gabe Whisnant and Gray R. Thomas
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