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Boy George shares message of solidarity with Jewish people at London anti-Semitism march

By Liberty Dunworth May 11, 2026 | 4:01 AM

Boy George has shared a message of solidarity with Jewish people at the anti-Semitism march held in London.

The march was held in Whitehall opposite Downing Street yesterday (Sunday May 10), and organised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council.

It was organised as an act of solidarity with the Jewish community following a rise in anti-Semitic attacks across the UK, with the BBC noting that there have been a string of attacks at synagogues and other Jewish sites in recent months, including the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green.

Support for the rally came from a wide coalition of Jewish organisations, several senior politicians and more, and just ahead of the rally, Boy George posted a message of support, sharing his disappointment that he could not attend in person, but voicing his support for the community.

“It’s going to be such a beautiful, powerful event, not only full of amazing Jewish people, but also people who support their Jewish friends. People like me, who keep being thanked for speaking up for Jewish people,” he said in the video.

“I don’t want to be thanked for doing what is right. I have so many beautiful Jewish friends, and I know some of you will be there today. But even if I don’t know you, I send you my love and I hope today sends a powerful message to the entire world.”

The video was aired at the march yesterday, and the Campaign Against Antisemitism shared footage of the moment on X and thanked the Culture Club singer for his support.

Thank you also to @BoyGeorge for sending a recorded message of solidarity,” they wrote. “It is extraordinary how few celebrities have been willing to stand unequivocally with the Jewish community during this unprecedentedly challenging period.

“It is thus even more appreciated that a small number, like Boy George, do so, and are prepared to endure the abuse that they receive from antisemites as a result.”

Political speakers who spoke at the rally included Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch, Lib Dem leader Ed Davey, Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice, and Pat McFadden who is Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

A report from Board Of Deputies Of British Jews claims that around 20,000 people were in attendance, and the board’s president Adrian Cohen that it was “deeply moving to see tens of thousands of people fill Whitehall today and send a clear message that the Jewish community will not be intimidated by the appalling antisemitic incidents we have witnessed in recent weeks.”

Earlier this year it was revealed that Boy George will be taking part in Eurovision 2026, performing alongside San Marino’s contestant Senhit.

The announcement came as pressure continues to mount on Eurovision over the inclusion of Israel, and many have vowed to boycott the event.

Many are calling on public broadcasters, performers, screening party organisers, crew and fans to refuse to participate in or support Eurovision until the EBU bans Israel from participating, as it did to Russia following its illegal invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

On December 4, members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) decided that Israel would be allowed to participate in the annual singing contest despite their involvement in the ongoing conflict in Gaza, as well as concerns over the voting process in last year’s contest.

The live finale will be held in Vienna on May 16, and Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Spain, and Slovenia have all withdrawn from the competition in protest.

Pressure to exclude Israel from the competition also comes from No Music For Genocide, which issued an open letter, signed by over 1,100 cultural workers and artists, calling for fans to boycott this year’s Eurovision unless Israel is banned from participating.

The open letter was first shared on April 21, and featured signatures from Brian Eno, Massive Attack, Paloma Faith, Paul Weller, Kneecap, Hot Chip, Of Monsters and Men, IDLES, Primal Scream, Sigur Rós, Young Fathers, Mogwai, Black Country New Road, Erika de Casier, Nadine Shah, Dry Cleaning, Ólafur Arnalds, David Holmes, Nemahsis, Macklemore, Roger Waters, Peter Gabriel, Vacations, Smerz, a number of former Eurovision finalists, and more.

Earlier this month, Boy George shared a video of him embracing Israel’s contestant, Noam Bettan, during rehearsals and wishing him luck ahead of the event.

Boy George also spoke to Daily Mail and said that giving into pressure to withdraw from the competition would feel like he was “turn[ing] my back on” his Jewish friends.

“I am so affiliated with Jewish people. I am not necessarily affiliated with Israel. I don’t really have an opinion on that. But the job of music is to unite people,” he said, adding that he has “DJ’d in Tel Aviv a number of times. I hope I will in the future”.

In 2024, he was one of the famous faces who signed an open letter calling for Israel to remain part of the Eurovision Song Contest that year, with other high profile signees including Sharon Osbourne, Gene Simmons and Scooter Braun.

The post Boy George shares message of solidarity with Jewish people at London anti-Semitism march appeared first on NME.