Boy George has pulled out of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar, days before he was due to perform, after releasing a pro-Israel song.
The pop icon was to play King Herod – a one-song cameo role rotated among guest stars – in the West End production at the London Palladium, which begins on August 3.
However, on Thursday his manager, Paul Kemsley, announced he was no longer set to appear without giving an explanation, only that George “has never been afraid to stand by his personal convictions”.
The former Culture Club singer last week released a pro-Israel AI-generated song, entitled We Will Dance Again, that denies claims of genocide in Gaza and criticises his fellow musicians for holding flags and speaking “like sheep”.
George wrote cryptically on X on Friday morning: “To quote Groucho Marx, I would never want to be part of any club that would have me as a member!”
Whatever it is I'm against it! pic.twitter.com/hAzXQySfHf
— Boy George (@BoyGeorge) July 31, 2026
Kemsley later wrote on Instagram: “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.
“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.
“We also recognise that many people purchased tickets in the hope of seeing George perform. To those fans, we offer our sincere apologies for the disappointment this decision may cause, and we are deeply grateful for their continued loyalty and support.
#Shalom pic.twitter.com/0BfHIrThzO
— Boy George (@BoyGeorge) July 26, 2026
“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.
“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.”
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