Boy George has withdrawn from the West End production of Jesus Christ Superstar following a fierce backlash over a pro-Israel track he released this week.
The 65-year-old, born George Alan O’Dowd, had been scheduled to take on the role of King Herod at the London Palladium during the period of August 3-15.
His manager confirmed the departure on social media today, stating that he had made the call “in my capacity as Boy George’s manager, that he will no longer be appearing in Jesus Christ Superstar.”
The decision came after the former Culture Club frontman provoked controversy by putting out an AI-generated reggae track called We Will Dance Again, which voiced support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
The musician has withdrawn from Jesus Christ Superstar following backlash over his pro-Israel song
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The track’s lyrics directly challenge accusations of genocide, with lines such as “you say genocide, I say war” and “when you’re attacked, that’s what the army’s for.”
The song also takes aim at fellow musicians, accusing them of “holding flags, mouthing like sheep” and being swayed by “propaganda fuelled by the internet.”
Its title references a phrase that became a rallying cry of solidarity following Hamas’s attack on October 7 2023, on an Israeli music festival and surrounding communities, which left 1,221 people dead.
The song’s release triggered significant public anger, ultimately leading to Boy George’s removal from the Palladium billing.
Boy George’s manager said the singer stepped away to allow the West End production to ‘remain the focus’
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Mr Kemsley’s statement praised the singer’s willingness to speak his mind.
“George has never been afraid to stand by his personal convictions, and I have always respected him for that,” he said.
However, the manager stressed his duty to protect his client’s interests while being considerate of others.
“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,” Mr Kemsley added.
“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 himself was unapologetic about the track, writing on social media: “I accept that many people disagree with my point of view but that is what is great about democracy.”
He openly acknowledged the song’s artificial origins, describing it as “AI for good” and adding: “Truthfully, I would struggle to write this with a human!”
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.
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.… pic.twitter.com/6KEw8VPScu
— Boy George (@BoyGeorge) July 31, 2026
On Friday, Boy George once again doubed-down, posted on X: “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.
“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. Move over Steps. What is most shocking is the amount of gay folk attacking me, but I am smart enough to realise that what you are cannot disguise who you are.”
He continued: “No gay person speaks for an entire community, and if you support terrorism, you can, in the words of Divine, ‘Take your toolkit and go fuck a garage’.
The singer defended his AI-generated track after it sparked fierce criticism online
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“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.
“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.”
On Instagram Boy George questioned critics directly: “Why not put the word ‘genocide’ in a song. Why are people suddenly uncomfortable with that word?”
During a May appearance on RTÉ’s The Late Late Show, Boy George recounted witnessing an attack on two Jewish people in Golders Green.
He challenged the studio audience, asking whether they personally knew any Jewish people, and when met with silence responded: “Look at the quiet, so weird, as a country that’s had a lot of pain, we should know what that feels like.”
Separately, tensions around the Israel-Gaza conflict have surfaced elsewhere in the music world.
Singaporean authorities opened an investigation after members of Massive Attack raised a Palestinian flag on stage during a concert on Wednesday, with audience members reportedly joining chants of “free Palestine.”
The Culture Club frontman had been due to play King Herod at the London Palladium this August
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The city-state prohibits the unauthorised public display of foreign flags, with penalties including fines of up to 500 Singapore dollars and a possible six-month prison sentence.
Massive Attack’s frontman Robert Del Naja was among more than 200 people arrested at a pro-Palestine protest in London’s Trafalgar Square in April.