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Boy George has dropped out of a London production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” just days after releasing the controversial pro-Israel song “We Will Dance Again.”
Paul Kemsley, George’s manager, released a statement on
social media that he had decided that the Culture Club singer would no longer appear in the production at the London Palladium. “The decision has been made with the utmost respect for the producers, the creative team and the entire company,” he wrote, apologizing to fans who had purchased tickets in hopes of seeing the show.
“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.”
George was scheduled to join the cast of “Jesus Chris Superstar” as King Herod from August 3-15. He was set to star alongside Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Richard Armitage, Simon Russell Beale, Layton Williams and Julian Clary.
Earlier this week, George drew ire after posting a pro-Israel song on social media with the Hebrew title “עוד נרקוד,” which translates to “We Will Dance Again.” On the song, the 65-year-old sings, “You say genocide, I say war / When you’re attacked, what’s what the army’s for / Does it get ugly? / You bet it does / When I know you wanna kill every last one of us.” He later explained that he made the track using AI.
Though George is yet to reference his exit from the musical, he did acknowledge the backlash to “We Will Dance Again” on Thursday afternoon. “It doesn’t matter what I think or you think,” he wrote on X. “When will you realise you’re doing NOTHING! It’s a fucking joke. I am even falling out with Jewish friends. The madness knows no bounds.”
