Boy George will no longer appear in the upcoming production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium.
The singer, who had been cast in the rotating role of King Herod, has withdrawn from the show following his personal management’s decision to step aside.
The announcement was made this evening by his manager, Paul Kemsley, via social media. The full statement reads:
“After careful consideration, I have decided, in my capacity as Boy George’s manager, that he will no longer be appearing in Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium.
“The decision has been made with the utmost respect for the producers, the creative team and the entire company. We are grateful for the professionalism and understanding they have shown throughout and sincerely wish everyone involved every success with the production.
“We also recognise that many people purchased tickets in the hope of seeing George perform. To those fans, we offer our sincere apologies for the disappointment this decision may cause, and we are deeply grateful for their continued loyalty and support.
“George has never been afraid to stand by his personal convictions, and I have always respected him for that.
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. In this instance, I felt it was right to step aside, allowing the production to remain the focus, while ensuring everyone involved can move forward with mutual respect and goodwill.”
George recently released a single, “We Will Dance Again”, voicing support for Israel’s military action in Palestine.
Current Herod Richard Armitage will cover Boy George’s performance dates.