Boy George is standing by his art and his convictions, even if it comes at a professional cost.
The Grammy-winning British singer and Culture Club frontman spoke out on social media after backlash to his pro-Israel song, "We Will Dance Again," led to him dropping out of a London stage production of "Jesus Christ Superstar."
"So many people are calling me and saying I should pipe down and let it blow over, and while they mean well, I'm afraid it's not an option," George, 65, wrote in an X post Friday, July 31. "Doubling down works for Donald Trump, and we share a birthday with Che Guevara, Alan Carr and Paul O'Grady. What a supergroup that would be."
He added: "If you have something powerful to say, then you should have the guts to show the world
who you are but most, if not all of you, are unwilling to show your faces, and the only reason is self-interest."
The controversy began earlier this week when Boy George released the politically charged track "We Will Dance Again," an AI-generated reggae song that expresses support for Israel amid the Gaza war. The singer, who was born in Barnehurst, England, was raised in an Irish Catholic family.
"You say genocide, I say war / When you're attacked, that's what the army's for," George sings in one line. "Does it get ugly? You bet it does / When I know you want to kill every last one of us."
While some listeners praised the '80s pop icon for showing solidarity with Israel and the Jewish community, other fans accused Boy George of downplaying the war's impact on the Palestinian people.
"Stop calling what is happening in Palestine a war. A war implies two sides with comparable military power," Instagram user @samuelbardon wrote. "What the world is witnessing is the destruction of homes, hospitals, schools and entire families, while civilians are displaced, starved, injured and killed. History will remember not only what happened but who had the courage to name it. It is not a war. It is genocide."
Boy George alluded to the song's controversial reception in an X post Thursday, July 30. "It doesn't matter what I think or what you think. When will you realize you're doing NOTHING!" he wrote. "It's a ... joke. I am even falling out with Jewish friends. The madness knows no bounds."
That same day, George's manager, Paul Kemsley, announced in an Instagram post that the singer would be pulling out of The London Palladium's production of "Jesus Christ Superstar." The stage show, which opens on Friday, features an A-list cast that includes Sam Ryder, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Richard Armitage.
"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 wrote. "The decision has been made with the utmost respect for the producers, the creative team and the entire company. We are grateful for the professionalism and understanding they have shown throughout and sincerely wish everyone involved every success with the production."
Kemsley added that while he respects that George "has never been afraid to stand by his personal convictions," he said it was his "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," Kemsley concluded.
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Boy George and The London Palladium for comment.
Boy George, a prominent figure in the LGBTQ community, defended the humanitarian message of his song in his X post Friday. The "Karma Chameleon" singer also took aim at online commenters for their criticism.
"What is most shocking is the amount of gay folk attacking me, but I am smart enough to realize that what you are cannot disguise who you are," George wrote. "When I say, 'They want to kill every last one of us,' I am also talking about us queers, not just the Jewish community. When will you wake up? Regardless of which side you take, I am disgusted by anyone who posts hatred against anyone but refuses to show their face."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Boy George doubles down on pro-Israel song after dropping out of musical
