UK singer Boy George pulls out of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' musical after pro-Israel song backlash

British pop icon Boy George pulled out of a West End production of the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" after facing a backlash for releasing a pro-Israel song, "We Will Dance Again".

The 65-year-old musician "will no longer be appearing in Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium", his manager Paul Kemsley said on social media.

The singer, whose real name is George Alan O'Dowd, rose to fame in the 1980s as the flamboyant singer of the pop band Culture Club.

This week he released a song supporting Israel and its war in Gaza, with lyrics including "you say genocide, I say war" and "when you're attacked, that's what the army's for",  dismissing a characterisation that has been agreed on by leading human rights organisations, UN experts and genocide scholars.

More than 70,000 people were killed in Gaza since Israel's genocidal war began on October 2023. 

Since a so-called 'ceasefire' came into effect last October, at least Israeli attack have killed 1,214 Palestinians in Gaza.

Boy George, who was set to star as King Herod in the London musical from 3-15 August, said the song was "created using AI" in a social media post.

He said he was inspired to write the song after visiting the Nova exhibition which commemorates victims of the attack at the music festival and is being displayed in London.

"Why not put the word 'genocide' in a song. Why are people suddenly uncomfortable with that word?" George said in a post on Instagram Threads.

"George has never been afraid to stand by his personal convictions, and I have always respected him for that," his manager Kemsley said.

"In this instance, I felt it was right to step aside, allowing the production to remain the focus," he added.

"Jesus Christ Superstar" was opening Friday on a run until 5 September. Culture Club is set to go on a UK tour in December.