Boy George exits ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ production after releasing pro-Israel reggae song

Boy George will no longer perform as King Herod in the West End revival of Jesus Christ Superstar. The singer was set to appear at the London Palladium from August 3 to August 15, but his manager has pulled him from the production following backlash over his recent social media posts.

Last weekend, the musician shared a reggae song on X that included lyrics addressing the conflict in Israel and Gaza. The post triggered immediate criticism from his followers and members of the public. The song contained lines such as "You say genocide, I say war" and "Musicians holding flags, mouthing like sheep."

Paul Kemsley, the manager for Boy George, announced the decision on Instagram this week. He stated that the intent is to prevent the controversy from shifting focus away from the production itself. The management team described the choice as a way to maintain respect for the producers, the creative team, and the company involved in the show.

Boy George responded to the criticism on Friday, noting that some individuals had advised him to stay quiet regarding his political views. The singer stated that remaining silent is not an option for him. Despite this, his management moved to remove him from the show to ensure the production could continue without this specific distraction.

Representatives for the West End production have not yet commented on the departure. This decision marks the end of his planned run in the musical, which has been a high-profile fixture in the London theater scene this season. The move highlights the tension often found when performers merge personal political commentary with their professional stage commitments.