Maureen Lipman slams ‘sanctimonious’ actors who ‘forced’ Boy George out of West End role over pro-Israel song

A poster from the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign depicting Maureen Lipman with devil horns and a pitchfork (SPSC)[Missing Credit]

On finishing her most recent West End stint, she wrote in her op-ed: “The gang of protestors who tried to boycott me from theatres in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Bath for believing in the state of Israel’s right to exist went underground in London.

“They were replaced by an altruistic band of brethren of all faiths called Mensch, who turned up to protest against the protestors. God bless them.”

She went on to talk about Boy George, who has, in recent weeks, also become the target of anti-Israel protesters after defending Israel most notably in his new song We Will Dance Again.

Lipman wrote that while her West End experience went off without any protest, “A group of sanctimonious actors forced Boy George out of his contract to play King Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar.

“They allegedly pressured producer Michael Harrison into sacking Boy George because he has, in a brave song called We Will Dance Again, defended Israel’s right to defend itself after the Hamas pogrom.

“In other words, Boy George has a different political stance from some of the cast. Powerful people. The show itself concerns a nice Jewish rabbi fighting prejudice from angry mobs in his ancestral home of Israel.”

George’s manager announced that the Culture Club frontman would be pulling out of the Andrew Lloyd-Webber production last month but made no mention of pressure from the cast.

Paul Kemsley gave no explanation for the decision, saying only that George “has never been afraid to stand by his personal convictions”.

Lipman concluded that part of her op-ed by asking: “Could this be the death of irony?”