Boy George has faced criticism for his lackluster performance during the first dress rehearsal of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. The 64-year-old former Culture Club singer, real name George O'Dowd, joined Italian singer Senhit on stage in Vienna, Austria, to perform their entry "Superstar." This marks Boy George's first participation in the annual competition, having provided lyrics and uncredited vocals for the song.
Rehearsal Performance Draws Criticism
Rehearsal footage shows Boy George wearing a large blue mirrored hat as he performed alongside Senhit. However, social media users were unimpressed, with many describing his contribution as minimal. User jmdubz172 wrote that he was "giving absolutely nothing," while niall5982 called it "very little." Mariahscracker remarked that he "doesn't know where he is," and GStarRaw72 likened the performance to "someone wearing headphones singing out of tune to a track." Jack_SOfficial_ predicted that San Marino would not qualify for the final.
San Marino's Eurovision Journey
San Marino will compete in the first semi-final on May 12. If successful, they will advance to the grand final, where the top 10 countries from each semi-final compete alongside the automatic qualifiers: the UK, Italy, Germany, and France. This is San Marino's third time participating with Senhit as their representative.
Boy George Defends Involvement Amid Boycott
This is not the first time Boy George has faced backlash over his Eurovision involvement. Last month, he defended himself against critics who condemned his participation due to an ongoing boycott of the competition over Israel's inclusion. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) allowed Israel to participate despite the conflict in Palestine, which has been declared a genocide by the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry. In response, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland announced they would boycott the event.
Speaking at the London Eurovision Party in April, Boy George said: "I have many, many Jewish friends that I've had since I was 15 or 16 years old. Are people asking me as a principled human being to turn my back on my Jewish friends? It's not going to happen, it's never going to happen." He added that he has worn a Jewish star since the beginning of his career and feels affiliated with Jewish people.
However, he previously signed a letter supporting Israel's inclusion in the competition, alongside Helen Mirren, Gene Simmons, Mila Kunis, and Sharon Osbourne. The letter stated: "We have been shocked and disappointed to see some members of the entertainment community calling for Israel to be banished from the Contest for responding to the greatest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust." It also claimed that the current fighting was not a war Israel wanted or started, and that punishing Israel would be "an inversion of justice."
Recent Events and Controversies
More recently, Israel was warned after participating broadcaster KAN violated competition rules by encouraging viewers to use all 10 of their votes for Israel. Boy George also commented on a terror attack in Golders Green, London, expressing sympathy for the Jewish victims and praising London's multicultural community.
The controversy surrounding Boy George's participation highlights the ongoing debate over the intersection of music and politics at Eurovision, as the competition prepares for its 2026 edition.
