Boy George has defended his pro-Israel song ‘We Will Dance Again’ after critics called him a “genocide denier”, saying he wrote it from “a place of peace” and does not lack compassion for Palestinians. The dispute matters because the song addresses Israel’s war in Gaza and criticism of artists supporting Palestine, placing the singer in a highly divisive public debate.

He said the track was prompted by visiting London’s Nova Music Festival Exhibition and speaking to the parents of Jake Marlowe, who was killed during the Hamas-led attack of 7 October 2023. George said he is devastated by innocent deaths on both sides and called for peace, while maintaining his view that the conflict is a war rather than an attempt to destroy Palestine; he has also withdrawn from a planned two-week role in ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, though no explicit reason was given.