Theater actor Patrick Clanton speak frankly about what he was thinking Boy Georgeperformance of “Moulin Rouge! The Musical”. In a publication on social networks, the first declared bluntly that he was ashamed to have shared the stage with the singer of Culture Club. Clanton’s message comes amid criticism of Boy George’s recently released pro-Israel song.
On July 28, theater artist Patrick Clanton shared on Instagram Stories his true feelings about Boy George’s performance on Broadway.
Clanton shared a post about the singer’s new song, “We Will Dance Again,” which is facing backlash due to its pro-Israel message. “You know, I used to defend his performance on our show, but damn,” the actor wrote, adding, “He was a terrible performer and I was embarrassed to be on the show with him. Boy, goodbye!”
In another post on Instagram Stories, Clanton said he always said Boy George was “really nice” whenever she was asked to work with him. “But as Sondheim taught us, ‘Nice is different from good,'” he added, referencing a line Stephen Sondheim wrote in the song “I Know Things Now” from the musical “Into the Woods.”
Boy George starred in Moulin Rouge! The musical in 2024 and 2025
Boy George, born George Alan O’Dowd, rose to fame in the 1980s as the lead singer of Culture Club, popularizing hits such as “Karma Chameleon” and “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me.” He made his Broadway debut in 2003, playing Leigh Bowery in the musical he co-created, “Taboo.”
Boy George returned to Broadway in 2024 as cabaret host Harold Zidler in “Moulin Rouge! The Musical”, and again in 2025 for the show’s second run. Clanton, on the other hand, was one of the main cast members of Zidler and Toulouse-Lautrec’s characters and was also part of the series’ ensemble.
While the singer’s fans loved seeing him on Broadway, Boy George received poor reviews from critics. Lisa Verrico, writing for The timessaid of the singer’s performance: “It was weak at best, often inaudible and sometimes woefully out of tune. »
Culture Club singer released AI-assisted song
On July 26, Boy George released an AI-assisted song, “We Will Dance Again”, which he shared on social media platforms, bypassing music streaming platforms. The pop-reggae track sparked backlash online, not because of its use of AI technology, but because of its pro-Israel lyrics.
The song opens with “You say genocide, I say war / When you’re attacked, that’s what the army is for.” He also referenced the start of the war in Gaza on October 7, 2023, singing about girls being attacked and killed “for the crime of dancing.”
If that wasn’t clear enough, elsewhere in the song Boy George sings, “But if you’re ever confused / I’m on the side of the Jews.”
Singer’s polarizing song divides listeners
George Alan O’Dowd, known professionally as Boy George, released a song rejecting the genocide in Gaza while expressing support for Israel
See the full lyrics 👇 pic.twitter.com/TNKzuNB3nI
– The National (@ScotNational) July 28, 2026
“We Will Dance Again” proved to be a polarizing release, creating a sharp division among listeners. Some share Boy George’s position, while others criticize the singer, arguing that he ignores the broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Many denounced Boy George on social media, describing him as “tone deaf,” “tasteless” and a “genocide apologist.” “You are already dancing on dead children and mass graves,” one person wrote. “If you weren’t an ignorant narcissist you would be ashamed,” added another.
On the other hand, many thanked the singer for spreading his message and praised him for his “courage” despite knowing the massive backlash he would receive. “What a Mensch! I can’t stop listening to this. So emotional,” one commented.
Boy George says his song is ‘pro-peace’
Boy George has not released an official statement regarding his song, but he has responded to some posts online. NME published an article titled “Boy George shares pro-Israel song ‘We Will Dance Again'”, to which the singer responded: “I call him pro-peace! »
The singer’s stance is not surprising, since he has clearly expressed his support for Israel. In December 2025, the European Broadcasting Union confirmed that Israel would be allowed to participate in Eurovision. As a result, some countries decided to boycott the event.
In April, Boy George defended his participation in Eurovision, saying: “I’ve had many, many Jewish friends since I was 15 or 16. Are people asking me, as a principled human being, to turn my back on my Jewish friends? That’s not going to happen, it’s never going to happen.”
