Boy George has parted ways with his record label and withdrawn from the London production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" following controversy over his AI-generated song "We Will Dance Again," which defends Israel's military actions. The 65-year-old artist stated that his Buddhist faith guided his decision to stand by his pro-Israel stance, even as it led to personal and professional repercussions.
George announced his split from Tony Pontius, who managed his record label BGP, stating that Pontius expressed unwillingness to be associated with the song. "I wanted to release 'We Will Dance Again' but he was unequivocal and said 'I want nothing to do with this song' and I responded 'ok, we are done'," George posted on X, formerly Twitter. He added that when someone is "gutless," it is easy to say goodbye, asserting that his faith in humanity would not diminish and that truth would prevail.
The song, currently unavailable on streaming services, features lyrics such as, "You say genocide, I say war / When you’re attacked that’s what the army’s for," and criticizes what he calls "selective memory" and "propaganda fuelled by the Internet."
George's management confirmed his withdrawal from the West End production of "Jesus Christ Superstar," where he was slated to portray King Herod. The role was scheduled to begin on August 3. Paul Kemsley, George's manager, shared the decision on Instagram, citing careful consideration and expressing respect for the producers, creative team, and company. Kemsley apologized to ticket holders for any disappointment and stated that the decision was made to allow the production to remain the focus while ensuring mutual respect and goodwill.
"George has never been afraid to stand by his personal convictions, and I have always respected him for that," Kemsley wrote. "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."