Boy George has defended his decision to continue to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest, despite controversy surrounding Israel’s participation
Boy George has defended himself against critics who have questioned his choice to participate in The Eurovision Song Contest amid growing controversy.
The annual singing competition is set to kick off in May in just a few weeks, and has already faced backlash with countries dropping out of the competition in protest of Israel’s continued participation.
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.
Boy George whose real name is George Alan O’Dowd and was the lead singer of 80s pop band Culture Club, has said he will continue to perform. The star is representing San Marino in the competition and teaming up with Italian singer, Senhit for the performance.
Ahead of the annual London Eurovision Party on Sunday he defended his choice to take part, saying: “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.”
The Karma Chameleon singer then added: “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.”
He then spoke of Ireland’s choice to pull out of the competition: “Ireland is my mother’s home country. I hope they’re not too angry. But if they are, that’s out of my control.”
Boy George is among many entertainment artists who signed the open letter supporting Israel’s continued participation in the competition. Signatories included the likes of; Dame Helen Mirren, Mila Kunis, Amy Schumer Gene Simmons, Sharon Osbourne, and Selma Blair.
In the open letter, which was published last Wednesday, pro-Israel entertainment figures said they supported the EBU’s decision to not remove Israel from the competition.
“We have been shocked and disappointed to see some members of the entertainment community calling for Israel to be banished from the Contest for responding to the greatest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust,” the letter read.
“This current round of fighting is not a war that Israel wanted or started,” the letter said. “To punish Israel would be an inversion of justice.”
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.
The 70th Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Vienna, Austria after their competitor JJ won last year in Basel, Switzerland with his song Wasted Love.
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