![\"Boy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1611386362-e1776694528721.jpg\")
\n\t\tBoy George has hit back at criticism of his involvement in Eurovision (Picture: Rick Kern\/WireImage)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tBoy George has hit back at criticism of his involvement in Eurovision (Picture: Rick Kern\/WireImage)<\/p>\n
Boy George<\/a> has defended himself after facing backlash around his involvement in Eurovision<\/a>, which has become hugely controversial.<\/p>\n In a first in the competition\u2019s history, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland<\/a> announced they are set to\u00a0boycott<\/a>\u00a0if Israel<\/a> takes part.<\/p>\n The boycott stems from Israel\u2019s attack on Palestine<\/a>, which has been declared a genocide<\/a> by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry.<\/p>\n The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) decided Israel would be allowed to take part, with this year\u2019s competition held in Vienna<\/a>, Austria.<\/p>\n Recently, Boy George attracted criticism when it was revealed he will represent\u00a0San Marino, teaming up with Italian singer Senhit.<\/p>\n Speaking at the London Eurovision<\/a> Party, he said: \u2018I have many, many Jewish friends that I\u2019ve had since I was 15 or 16 years old.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t The Culture Club<\/a> singer continued: \u2018Are people asking me as a principled human being to turn my back on my Jewish friends? It\u2019s not going to happen, it\u2019s never going to happen.<\/p>\n \u2018From the beginning of my career, I wore a Jewish star. Go back and look at pictures of Culture Club. I am so affiliated with Jewish people.\u2019<\/p>\n When it came to Israel, he said he is \u2018not necessarily affiliated\u2019 with the country so didn\u2019t \u2018really have an opinion<\/a> on that\u2019.<\/p>\n However, he did previously sign a letter of support for Israel\u2019s continued inclusion in Eurovision, along with Dame Helen Mirren, Mila Kunis, Gene Simmons and Sharon Osbourne.<\/p>\n The open letter, which was published last Wednesday, referenced the October 7 attacks, saying the country was simply \u2018responding to the greatest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust\u2019.<\/p>\n 1,195 people\u00a0died in the attacks orchestrated by Hamas, including both Israelis and non-Israelis attending the Nova festival.<\/p>\n In the two years following, Israel\u2019s military action against Palestine has resulted in over 67,075 deaths, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.<\/p>\n The letter continued: \u2018This current round of fighting is not a war that Israel wanted or started. To punish Israel would be an inversion of justice.\u2019<\/p>\n Doubling down on his decision to appear at Eurovision, Boy George added: \u2018The job of music is to unite people.\u2019<\/p>\n He said he hoped Ireland, his mother\u2019s \u2018home country\u2019, would not be \u2018too angry\u2019 at him, since broadcaster RTE pulled out of the competition.<\/p>\n \t\t The broadcaster said that \u2018participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there, which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk.\u2019<\/p>\n In 2022, Russia was removed from Eurovision following the invasion of Ukraine, who went on to win the competition. The following year, the UK hosted as Sam Ryder came in second.<\/p>\n This year, Look Mum No Computer <\/a>is participating on behalf of the UK with the experimental track Eins, Zwei, Drei.<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s the first time ever in the contest\u2019s\u00a070-year run<\/a> that\u00a0the UK\u2019s song is not sung entirely in English, with the chorus sung in German.<\/p>\n Got a story?<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow![\"London](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2272113040.jpg\")
\n\t\tHe\u2019s singing with Senhit to represent San Marino (Picture: Mark Case\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"London](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2272052563-e1776693907734.jpg\")
\n\t\tHe also signed a letter of support for Israel competing (Picture: Tristan Fewings\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"TX](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI_288081597-0976.jpg\")
\n\t\tLook Mum No Computer will compete for Eurovision (Picture: BBC\/Michael Leckie)<\/p>\n
\nMORE: Sara Cox \u2018not afraid to crumple a man\u2019s fragile ego\u2019 as she replaces Scott Mills on Eurovision<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: Scott Mills\u2019 replacement for Eurovision \u2018revealed\u2019 after his BBC Radio 2 axe<\/a><\/p>\n