Boy George has pulled out of a West End musical days after releasing a pro-Israel song.

The former Culture Club singer was set to play King Herod in a production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium, which begins on Aug 3.

However, on Thursday night his manager said he was no longer set to appear.

Last week the singer released a new track called We Will Dance Again, which voices support for Israel’s war in Gaza and refers to the Hamas attacks on the Nova Music Festival on Oct 7.

The track’s title refers to an expression Israelis have repeatedly used to express their hopes for the future following the massacre.

Its lyrics say festival goers were “murder[ed] … for the crime of dancing”.

‘The madness knows no bounds’

In a statement posted on Instagram, his manager said: “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.

“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.

“We also recognise that many people purchased tickets in the hope of seeing George perform. To those fans, we offer our sincere apologies for the disappointment this decision may cause, and we are deeply grateful for their continued loyalty and support.

“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 posted on X: “It doesn’t matter what I think or what you think. 

“When will you realise you’re doing NOTHING! It’s a f—ing joke. I am even falling out with Jewish friends. 

“The madness knows no bounds.”