Boy George has withdrawn from the West End production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium, following criticism over his release of a pro-Israel track titled We Will Dance Again.
The former Culture Club frontman was scheduled to play King Herod from August 3 to August 15.
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The production runs at the London Palladium until September 5, then moves to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on October 16.
The controversy arose after the singer released a song referencing the Gaza conflict, with lyrics such as "you say genocide, I say war" and "when you're attacked, that's what the army's for."
The title refers to a phrase of solidarity following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, in which 1,221 people were killed, according to an AFP calculation based on official data.
Subsequent Israeli military actions in Gaza have resulted in more than 70,000 deaths, per the territory's health ministry, with an additional 1,214 Palestinians killed since a truce took effect last October.
Boy George addressed the backlash on social media, explaining his inspiration.
He said a visit to London's Nova exhibition, which commemorates victims of the music festival attack, inspired the song.
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"Why not put the word 'genocide' in a song. Why are people suddenly uncomfortable with that word?"
he wrote on Instagram Threads.
His manager, Kemsley, confirmed the decision to step down from the production.
"George has never been afraid to stand by his personal convictions, and I have always respected him for that," Kemsley said.
"In this instance, I felt it was right to step aside, allowing the production to remain the focus," he added.
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Culture Club is scheduled to begin a UK tour in December.
