Boy George, the Culture Club frontman and outspoken supporter of Israel for decades, arrived in Israel on Saturday ahead of two Tel Aviv concerts, including a special performance dedicated to the Nova community and their families.
The singer, who arrived by private jet, was welcomed at Ben-Gurion Airport’s Fattal Lounge by Sylvan Adams, president of the World Jewish Congress Israel, and Guy Beser, co-owner of Live Nation Israel, which is producing the concerts.
“I am here with you – out of love, out of a belief in peace, and out of a desire for us to dance, live, and celebrate together again,” Boy George said.
Discussing his song “We Will Dance Again,” which was released in July and in which he expresses solidarity with the Jewish people, he said conversations with longtime Jewish friends in Britain had prompted him to speak out.
“It’s insane that they’re feeling so unsafe, powerless, and frightened, and I just felt like I needed to say something,” he said. “Their appreciation has been really important to me and quite overwhelming, actually.”
The song includes lines such as “I stand with the Jews” and “You say genocide, I say war,” in response to criticism of Israel over the war in Gaza.
Adams thanks Boy George for friendship, support of Israel
A total of 1,500 tickets were donated by Adams, in partnership with the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem, and Live Nation Israel – Guy Beser and Shay Mor Yosef – for members of the Nova community. The tickets will be distributed by the Tribe of Nova Community Association to survivors of the music festival attacks and bereaved families.
Adams welcomed the singer and thanked him for his support, saying, “Welcome to Israel. We deeply appreciate your friendship, and your understanding that these are challenging times for Israel and the Jewish people.”
Boy George will perform at Menora Mivtachim Arena on November 4, with special guest Ivri Lider. A second concert, on November 7, will be dedicated to the Nova community and their families, with DJ Offer Nissim as the special guest.
The singer is also scheduled to hold a press conference on November 3 at the Nova music festival site, where 364 people were massacred by Hamas on October 7, 2023.