Boy George Steps Away From ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ After Controversy

WHO:

Variety - Paul Kemsley, Boy George's manager, released a statement on social media.

Rolling Stone - Boy George, the singer and former Culture Club member.

Newsweek - Boy George's manager.

WHAT:

Vulture - Boy George's song "We Will Dance Again" was released on July 27.

Vulture - The song includes lyrics such as: “Does it get ugly? You bet it does / When I know you wanna kill every last one of us.”

Vulture - Boy George stated, “The song was created using AI. I call it ‘AI for good’. Truthfully, I would struggle to write this with a human!”

Vulture - Boy George mentioned on X that he is "even falling out with Jewish friends" due to the backlash from the song.

Billboard - Boy George was slated to play King Herod in the musical beginning next week.

The Times of Israel - Paul Kemsley stated, “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,” in a statement released Thursday.

The Times of Israel - The song "We Will Dance Again" was released earlier this week.

The Times of Israel - Paul Kemsley stated, “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.”

The Times of Israel - Kemsley added, “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.”

The Times of Israel - Kemsley concluded, “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.”

The Times of Israel - Boy George's appearances in "Jesus Christ Superstar" were slated to begin on Monday and run through August 15.

The Times of Israel - The title of Boy George's song "We Will Dance Again" is a phrase adopted by survivors of the Nova music festival massacre on October 7, 2023.

The Times of Israel - The song includes lyrics such as: “You say genocide, I say war / When you’re attacked, that’s what the army’s for,” and “You never mention October 7.”

The Times of Israel - Boy George declared in the song: “If you’re ever confused: I stand with the Jews.”

The Times of Israel - The song has been met with gratitude from Israelis and their supporters, while fellow musician Martyn Ware called it “overtly pro-genocide.”

Variety - 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."

Rolling Stone - Boy George has dropped out of the production of "Jesus Christ Superstar."

Newsweek - Boy George's manager stated, "...I have decided...that he will no longer be appearing in Jesus Christ Superstar..."

Deadline - Boy George withdrew from the West End revival of "Jesus Christ Superstar" just days before his scheduled appearance in the role of King Herod.

WHERE:

Variety - The production is at the London Palladium.

NO_NEW_FACTS

Deadline - The production is located in the West End.

WHY:

The Times of Israel - Boy George has become increasingly vocal in supporting Jewish communities in the wake of the October 7 attacks, including rejecting calls to boycott this year’s Eurovision Song Contest over Israel’s participation, stating he would not “turn my back” on his Jewish friends.

Rolling Stone - The decision follows backlash against Boy George's recent release of an AI-assisted song titled “We Will Dance Again,” which minimizes Palestinian suffering and praises Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

Deadline - The song disputes the charge of genocide and refers to pro-Palestine supporters as “sheep.”

HOW:

Rolling Stone - The song was created with AI assistance.

(UPDATED July 31, 2026 19:24 UTC)

Boy George's new song "We Will Dance Again" was released on July 27, and it features provocative lyrics like, “Does it get ugly? You bet it does / When I know you wanna kill every last one of us.” The artist revealed that the song was created using AI, stating, “I call it ‘AI for good’. Truthfully, I would struggle to write this with a human!” He also shared on X that he is facing backlash from the song, even mentioning that he is "even falling out with Jewish friends."

(UPDATED July 31, 2026 15:40 UTC)

In a surprising turn of events, Boy George will no longer be appearing as King Herod in the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" at the London Palladium, according to a statement from his manager, Paul Kemsley. This decision comes as Boy George has been increasingly vocal in his support for Jewish communities following the October 7 attacks, emphasizing his commitment to not boycott this year's Eurovision Song Contest over Israel's participation. Earlier this week, he also released a new song titled "We Will Dance Again."

(UPDATED July 31, 2026 14:44 UTC)

Paul Kemsley has announced his decision to step aside from a production, expressing gratitude for the professionalism and understanding shown by the creative team. He emphasized his respect for Boy George's personal convictions and highlighted the importance of making choices that benefit his artist while maintaining respect for others. Kemsley's move comes as Boy George has been vocal in supporting Jewish communities following the October 7 attacks, firmly rejecting calls to boycott this year's Eurovision Song Contest over Israel's participation.

(UPDATED July 31, 2026 10:54 UTC)

Boy George is set to begin his performances in "Jesus Christ Superstar" on Monday, running through August 15. His song "We Will Dance Again," which resonates with survivors of the Nova music festival massacre, features provocative lyrics and a clear message of support for the Jewish community. While the song has been met with gratitude from many Israelis and their supporters, it has also drawn criticism, with fellow musician Martyn Ware labeling it as “overtly pro-genocide.”

(UPDATED July 31, 2026 01:33 UTC)

Boy George has announced his withdrawal from the London production of "Jesus Christ Superstar," just days after the release of his controversial pro-Israel song "We Will Dance Again." His manager, Paul Kemsley, shared this news through a statement on social media. The show was set to take place at the London Palladium.

(UPDATED July 31, 2026 00:22 UTC)

Boy George has officially withdrawn from the West End revival of "Jesus Christ Superstar," just days before he was set to take on the role of King Herod. His manager confirmed the decision, stating that Boy George will no longer be appearing in the production, which follows backlash against his recent AI-assisted song titled “We Will Dance Again.” The song has drawn criticism for its minimization of Palestinian suffering and controversial remarks about pro-Palestine supporters.