Moulin Rouge actor criticises Boy George over acting and AI-generated song
A former Broadway co-star has publicly condemned Boy George’s performance and his recent use of generative AI for a controversial political song, highlighting growing tensions over technology and celebrity influence in the cultural sector.
Patrick Clanton, an actor who appeared alongside Boy George in last year’s Broadway production of Moulin Rouge!, has publicly condemned the singer’s performance. Clanton took to Instagram to state he was embarrassed to have shared the stage with the Culture Club frontman, who played Harold Zidler.
The criticism follows recent headlines surrounding Boy George’s admission that his controversial pro-Israel song, ‘We Will Dance Again’, was created using generative AI. Clanton noted that while he previously defended the singer’s acting, he could no longer do so in light of these developments.
Clanton wrote: “Y’know, I used to defend his performance in our show, but fuck it. He was a terrible performer and I was embarrassed to be in the show with him. Boy, Bye!” He added that while the singer was polite, “Nice is different than good,” quoting the Stephen Sondheim musical Into The Woods.
The song in question has drawn significant attention for its political content. It opens with the line “You say genocide, I say war” and describes pro-Palestine artists as “sheep”.
Boy George addressed the track’s creation on Threads, defending the technology. “As imperfect as it is! The song was created using AI. I call it ‘AI for good’,” he wrote. “Truthfully, I would struggle to write this with a human!”
This artistic controversy intersects with broader geopolitical debates. A United Nations Commission concluded last year that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, noting last month that such acts were continuing through attacks targeting children. Amnesty International has reached a similar conclusion.
Israel has repeatedly denied committing genocide or war crimes. The state maintains its military campaign is an act of self-defence following October 7, dismissing UN findings as “distorted and false” and a “libellous sham”.
For the European cultural sector, the episode underscores mounting friction over the role of artificial intelligence in creative industries. It also highlights the reputational risks for public figures who blend automated content creation with highly polarised geopolitical statements.
Boy George recently appeared in the European public spotlight representing San Marino at the Eurovision Song Contest in May. However, the entry failed to advance to the final, leaving his current standing in the European entertainment market increasingly complicated.
