Boy George has addressed his brief appearance at the Eurovision Song Contest and admitted he was “sad” to have left the competition before making the grand final
Boy George has addressed his brief appearance at the Eurovision Song Contest – which saw him miss out on a place in the final. The Culture Club singer, 64, was representing San Marino in the international event and took to the stage in Vienna on Tuesday night to perform Superstar alongside Italian singer Senhit.
The pair failed to qualify for the final, which takes place on Saturday night, and in the hours that followed, the 80s pop legend took to social media to address his sadness over leaving so soon, but insisted he has no regrets about how the whole thing turned out.
He wrote on X: “If you voted for us, thank you so much, I was sad we didn’t get through to the final but my @eurovision experience has been fabulous. I wouldn’t take a minute of it back. Thanks to @senhitofficial and the entire San Marino delegation.
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“What a fun bunch. We will perform together in Milan in July. At the @RealCultureClub show. #funk #love #Italy.” The former I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! star was instantly supposed by fans who rushed to reply to his tweet.
One fan wrote; “I love the song Superstar so much. You and Senhit are a beautiful team.What an uplifting song! I’m so glad you are reuniting in July.Every experience brings us new beginnings and joy,” whilst another said: “You’re a winner no matter what!!! Lucky Milan, what a concert they will see in July!”
A third wrote: “I voted on several phones from Germany. It’s a pity that you didn‘t come through. Some years ago I’ve stopped watching ESC. Now I remember why. It‘s a game… like competition dancing. I loved to see you today. You were fabulous. xx”
A fourth said: “I never normally watch Eurovision, but it was great fun watching you and Senhit having a good time & doing all the press & rehearsals. Of course to me George you are always number one![medal emoji] Senhit,we all loved your excitement about George & your passion for SUPERSTAR Great job!”
Former X Factor duo Jedward, who represented their native Ireland in 2011 and 2012 with the tracks Lipstick and Waterline, also weighed in as they took to social media to write: “Can’t believe that didn’t qualify!”
Following a public vote, Greece, Finland, Belgium, Sweden, Moldova, Israel, Croatia, Lithuania, and Poland, were given a place in the final, joining Germany and Italy, who as part of the “big four” alongside France and the UK, already have a guaranteed spot.
In 2025, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) allowed Israel to continue to compete despite concerns over the war in Gaza. This then prompted Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland to confirm that they would be boycotting the competition in protest.
Ahead of the annual London Eurovision Party on Sunday he defended his choice to take part, as he said: “I have many, many Jewish friends that I’ve had since I was 15 or 16 years old. Are people asking me as a principled human being to turn my back on my Jewish friends? It’s not going to happen, it’s never going to happen.
“From the beginning of my career I wore a Jewish star. Go back and look at pictures of Culture Club. I am so affiliated with Jewish people. I am not necessarily affiliated with Israel. I don’t really have an opinion on that. But the job of music is to unite people. Ireland is my mother’s home country. I hope they’re not too angry. But if they are, that’s out of my control!”
Countries have previously been expelled from the competition at the organisers’ discretion with Russia excluded from the competition in 2022, following the invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine then went on to win the competition, with the 2023 competition hosted in runner-up Sam Ryder’s country instead, the UK.
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