Boy George Withdraws from West End 'Jesus Christ Superstar' Production

Boy George will no longer appear in the West End revival of "Jesus Christ Superstar" at the London Palladium, his manager announced on Instagram. The decision follows the singer's recent release of a song that expressed support for Israel's military actions in Palestine and criticized pro-Palestine activists.

Paul Kemsley, who manages George, wrote that the move was made "with the utmost respect for the producers, the creative team and the entire company" and thanked them for their professionalism. He added that the manager felt it was necessary to step aside to keep the focus on the production and to respect all parties involved.

George had been scheduled to play King Herod from August 2 to August 15 as part of a rotating cast that includes actors such as Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Richard Armitage, the latter expected to assume the role. The revival, directed by Tim Sheader, opened on June 20 and features Sam Ryder as Jesus and Tyrone Huntley as Judas.

The song, titled "We Will Dance Again," was posted online earlier in the week with lyrics in English and Hebrew and a note that it was co-written using artificial intelligence. It included lines that described Israeli civilians as victims of a crime and addressed celebrity supporters of Palestine with critical remarks. The track has since been removed from online platforms.