Boy George has withdrawn from the forthcoming West End production of Jesus Christ Superstar after criticism of his new pro-Israel song, “We Will Dance Again”. The decision removes him from a scheduled appearance as King Herod at the London Palladium and reflects the wider backlash the song has prompted online.

The song refers to the Hamas attack on Israel’s Nova music festival on 7 October 2023 and rejects descriptions of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as genocide. Boy George had been due to perform between 3 and 15 August as one of several actors sharing the role; his manager said he would no longer appear.