Boy George has defended his participation in the Eurovision Song Contest after coming under pressure from fans to boycott the competition because of Israel’s involvement.
The musician, who is due to represent San Marino at the contest next month alongside Italian singer, Senhit, with a song he co-wrote, declared that, as a “principled human being”, he would “never” abandon his Jewish friends by boycotting the show.
Commenting on the calls he has faced from members of the public to quit Eurovision in protests of Israel’s participation, the Culture Club singer said: “Are people asking me as a principled human being to turn my back on my Jewish friends? It’s not going to happen, it’s never going to happen.”
Speaking to Sky News, the 64-year-old musician referenced his decades-long relationship with and advocate for the Jewish community, saying: “I have many, many Jewish friends that I’ve had since I was 15 or 16 years old.
“From 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.
He added: “I am not necessarily affiliated with Israel. I don’t really have an opinion on that.”
Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 – which will take place in Vienna – hung in the balance for much of last year amid demands from activists and some participating countries for the Jewish state to be banned from the contest because of its military actions in Gaza following the October 7 Hamas-led terror attacks.
In December, delegates from European Broadcast Union (EBU) member broadcasters voted on new voting rules and restrictions for the contest, with these motions passing by a large majority. As a result of these rules being approved, no vote on whether Israel should be banned from competing was held.
Since then, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Iceland and Ireland have announced their withdrawal from the 2026 contest in protest.
Reflecting on the withdrawal of Ireland – which has won Eurovision seven times – the Karma Chameleon singer said: “Ireland is my mother’s home country. I hope they’re not too angry. But if they are, that’s out of my control.”
In addition to occasionally donning a Star of David, Boy George – whose real name is George Alan O'Dowd – was also known for sporting a T-shirt with Hebrew lettering reading "Tarbut Aguda", which roughly translates to "Culture Association” in band’s early days.
Last week, an open letter in support of Israel’s involvement in the competition signed by celebrities including Dame Helen Mirren, Mila Kunis, Emmy Rossum and Liev Schreiber was published. The letter, to which Boy George also signed his name, stated: “We, the undersigned members of the entertainment industry, are writing to express our support for Israel’s continued inclusion in the Eurovision Song Contest.
“We have been shocked and disappointed to see some members of the entertainment community calling for Israel to be banished from the Contest for responding to the greatest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.”
Another signatory, Israeli-American Kiss star Gene Simmons, wrote a personal message about the power of music to bring people together, arguing that “those advocating to exclude an Israeli singer from Eurovision don’t move the needle towards peace, but only further divide the world.”
In a separate note, Big Bang Theory actor Mayim Bialik wrote: “After a horrendous violent attack on Israeli civilians, calls for boycotts and excluding Israeli artists from international events simply because they are Israeli is abhorrent and shameful. Targeting Israeli musicians in this way tarnishes the unifying spirit that is Eurovision.”
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