Boy George pulls out of Jesus Christ Superstar

musicJul 31, 202618140

Boy George has withdrawn from the London Palladium run of Jesus Christ Superstar after releasing a pro-Israel song titled עוד נרקוד, translated as We Will Dance Again. His manager Paul Kemsley announced he had “decided, in my capacity as Boy George’s manager, that he will no longer be appearing” and said the move was in the artist’s best interests while allowing the production to remain the focus. Boy George had been due to play King Herod alongside Sam Ryder as Jesus; Richard Armitage will now cover Boy George’s scheduled performances. The song’s lyrics defend Israel’s military response and include lines such as “You say genocide, I say war,” a conflict described as genocidal by a UN commission. The release prompted calls for protests outside the Palladium, widespread social media condemnation, and public criticism from peers including Martyn Ware, who called the song “overtly pro-genocide, anti-Palestinian musical propaganda.” Kemsley apologised to ticketholders and thanked the show’s producers for their professionalism; Boy George posted an AI-altered image of himself with a Groucho Marx moustache and repeated his contention that disagreement is part of democracy.

The National

@scotnational.bsky.social

Boy George has been pulled off a West End performance days before he was set to take the stage as his manager scrambles to minimise backlash to a pro-Israel song 👇

222h ago

BarefootFi2

I’m old enough to remember Boy George singing “war is stupid”. He seemed like an intelligent, reasonable person now I wonder who the fuck he is and what fancy friends are influencing him.

Andrew Quinn🏳️‍🌈🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇵🇸🤘🏻😸1

'minimize' backlash?! Once you've openly supported torture, murder, war crimes and genocide I don't there is any 'minimisation' to be done. Anyone even standing in the same room as him must feel dirty by association.

Quoting this

R17

sorry for posting 50 times the other night about how much i hate him

Aprilciate 🍉🏳️‍⚧️

@aprilciate.bsky.social

Your daily reminder Boy George imprisoned and abused a sex worker

222h ago

Aprilciate 🍉🏳️‍⚧️2

Also don’t believe a word re trans rights. He was a terf until it harmed his bookings and wanted anti JK clout. www.lgbtqnation.com/2020/01/boy-...

Morgan GD2

....well I learnt something unpleasant today. Had no idea.

John Lubbock2

I mean you just have to conclude from this that he believes some people aren’t human beings who are equally worthy of the rights we are.

The Integer Overflow Climate Project2

shocked to learn the hack writing pro-IDF anthems completely unforced is a bad person

AFP News Agency

@en.afp.com

🇬🇧 British singer Boy George pulled out of a West End production of the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" after facing a backlash for releasing a pro-Israel song, "We Will Dance Again". ➡️ u.afp.com/SrFJ

152h ago

Lisa Grimm

@lisagrimm.com

Haven’t received my email yet, but some excellent upgrade news for my Jesus Christ Superstar experience next week. No longer have to acquaint the tween with Boy George!

SAM RYDER
JESUS CHRIST
SUPERSTAR
LYRICS BY TIM RICE MUSIC BY ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER
Hi Simone,
We are writing to inform you that Boy George will no longer be performing the role of King Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar.
The role of King Herod is now due to be played by Richard Armitage for the performance you have booked.
We look forward to welcoming you to The London Palladium.
Warm regards,
LW Theatres

1217h ago

Jordan St.John3

That's a bit harsh. Do you really want to hurt him?

Aileen E1

Ok Richard Armitage is pretty cool tho

Katy1

That's... quite a change. 😂

R.A.Cole1

Eternal rock opera. Of the many times I’ve seen this, the most unlikely was in Cape Girardeau, Missouri with Ted Neeley, back in the early 90s.

Lady Disdain (she/her)

@maggiesox.bsky.social

EXCUSE ME, but RICHARD ARMITAGE is replacing Boy George as HEROD in Jesus Christ Superstar? Alexa, find me the cheapest flight to London.

915h ago

Mork

@andrewblue23.bsky.social

Boy George pulls out of Jesus Christ superstar ….. Second coming ???

93h ago

Blue Baby⭐️⭐️1

Richard Armitage again, ole ole....

Laurence - highest score ever in the Neasden Cognitive Test

@laurenceineu.bsky.social

Not impressed with Boy George over his song. I was once issued a pass for the press gallery at a Jackson concert. Chatting with someone at the attached bar, I commented "look at that twat over there dressed as Boy George". He replied "because he is Boy George." www.theguardian.com/music/2026/j...

52h ago

Steve Portigal

@steveportigal.bsky.social

2026 is so weird "Boy George Drops Out of London ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ Production Following Backlash to Pro-Israel Song"

59h ago

Naomi - Don't Break The Seal Dammit

@basi1faw1ty.bsky.social

Boy George got booted out of his upcoming role in Jesus Christ Superstar for being a big fat idiot Lololololol

717h ago

The New Arab

@thenewarab.bsky.social

Boy George was set to star as King Herod in the London West End production of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ - but has now pulled out, just days before the music was due to premiere on Monday. It comes after he faced backlash for releasing "We Will Dance Again", a pro-Israel song.

42h ago

The Journal

@thejournal.ie

Boy George has pulled out of a West End musical after facing backlash for releasing a pro-Israel song, which was created using AI. He had been due to appear in a production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium. jrnl.ie/7118543

42h ago

Andy Burge 🇬🇧🇪🇺

@andygjburge.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/music/2026/j... Sigh. Very disappointed to learn that Boy George is none too bright. He sings “There will be no war / But if you’re ever confused / I stand with the Jews / I don’t feel brave, I just need to behave like a human.” But .... 1/4

52h ago

@vektroid.bsky.social

for context i will refer you to the 20ish posts i deleted yesterday on the subject of how much i hate boy george

55h ago

Laura Bee

@writerlaurabee.bsky.social

Has-been 80s musician steals other musicians' music to "write" AI anti-Palestinian reggae song, manager pulls him from role of Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar.../1 youtu.be/c3LM2iQ8p7A?...

33h ago

Midas Eye

@midaseye.bsky.social

My low opinion of Boy George has dropped a few notches below the bottom of the barrel.

42h ago

3 sources

theguardian.comBoy George pulls out of Jesus Christ Superstar after releasing pro-Israel song rte.ieBoy George exits musical after pro-Israel song backlash westendtheatre.comBoy George withdraws from Jesus Christ Superstar at the Palladium | West End Theatre

Boy George pulls out of Jesus Christ Superstarmusic

Boy George pulls out of Jesus Christ Superstar

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