![\"LONDON,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SEI_296389211-a0dd.jpg\")
\n\t\tBoy George is set to take to the stage at the Eurovision Song Contest with singer Senhit (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tBoy George is set to take to the stage at the Eurovision Song Contest with singer Senhit (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Boy George<\/a> has been criticised for his performance ahead of this year\u2019s Eurovision Song Contest<\/a>.<\/p>\n The former Culture Club Singer<\/a>, real name George O\u2019Dowd, had been performing at the competition\u2019s first dress rehearsal along with Italian singer Senhit.<\/p>\n This will mark the former I\u2019m A Celebrity\u2026 Get Me Out of Here! star\u2019s<\/a> first time participating in the annual competition \u2013 providing lyrics and uncredited vocals for Senheit\u2019s song, Superstar.<\/p>\n If it qualifies, then Senheit will be representing San Marino for the third time.<\/p>\n Recently released rehearsal footage shows Boy George, 64, taking to the stage wearing a large blue mirrored hat upon his head, joining Senheit in a rendition of the song\u2019s vocals.<\/p>\n However, the listless performance has some feeling underwhelmed, with commenters on social media<\/a> describing his contribution as \u2018very little.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t Reacting to a clip shared by superTV247 on X, fans shared their thoughts on Boy George\u2019s latest outing.<\/p>\n User jmdubz172 described the star as \u2018giving absolutely nothing,\u2019 while niall5982 called it \u2018very little.\u2019<\/p>\n Meanwhile, mariahscracker remarked that he \u2018doesn\u2019t know where he is,\u2019 as GStarRaw72 likened the performance to \u2018someone wearing headphones on singing out of tune to a track.\u2019<\/p>\n Jack_SOfficial_ didn\u2019t fancy their chances much, predicting: \u2018Oh they are so not qualifying.\u2019<\/p>\n San Marino will compete in the first semi-final on May 12 in Vienna, Austria. They will be hoping to score a pass to the grand final, along with the other nine countries from each semi-final.<\/p>\n The top 10 will then compete next to the \u2018Big Four\u2019 countries who automatically qualify \u2013 the UK, Italy, Germany, and France.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t the first time Boy George has been criticised for his involvement in this year\u2019s Eurovision.<\/p>\n Last month, the musician \u2013 who was convicted of falsely imprisoning a male escort in his London flat in 2007<\/a> \u2013 defended himself against backlash from those who condemned his participation in spite of an ongoing boycott.<\/p>\n This comes after Israel<\/a>\u2019s attack on Palestine<\/a>, which has been declared a genocide by the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry.<\/p>\n In response to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) allowing Israel to participate, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland<\/a> all announced that they will boycott this year\u2019s competition.<\/p>\n Responding to those who criticised his own involvement<\/a>, the star said: \u2018I have many, many Jewish friends that I\u2019ve had since I was 15 or 16 years old.<\/p>\n \u2018Are people asking me as a principled human being to turn my back on my Jewish friends? It\u2019s not going to happen, it\u2019s never going to happen.<\/p>\n \t\t Speaking at the London Eurovision Party in April, he continued: \u2018From the beginning of my career, I wore a Jewish star. Go back and look at pictures of Culture Club<\/a>. I am so affiliated with Jewish people.\u2019<\/p>\n He went on to say that he is \u2018not necessarily affiliated\u2019 with Israel, so didn\u2019t \u2018really have an\u00a0opinion<\/a>\u00a0on that,\u2019 but remarked that the job of music is \u2018to unite people.\u2019<\/p>\n However, he did previously sign a letter of support advocating for Israel\u2019s inclusion in the competition, along with Helen Mirren<\/a>, Gene Simmons, Mila Kunis and Sharon Osbourne.<\/p>\n \u2018We 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,\u2019 the letter read.<\/p>\n It continued: \u2018This current round of fighting is not a war that Israel wanted or started,\u2019 it continued, before suggesting thatto punish Israel would be \u2018an inversion of justice.\u2019<\/p>\n More recently, Israel has been issued a warning ahead of the contest<\/a>, after participating broadcaster KAN was found to have violated competition rules by encouraging viewers to use all 10 of their votes for Israel.<\/p>\n \t\t Last month, the singer revealed that he was in the area when a terror attack took place in Golders Green<\/a>, London.<\/p>\n Posting a video to X which showed police tape blocking a street, he wrote: \u2018I was in Golders Green yesterday.<\/p>\n \u2018I arrived just as the police presence was building. My heart goes out to the two Jewish victims and to their loved ones.\u2019<\/p>\n Describing his perspective on what had happened<\/a>, he continued: \u2018I was in tears because you could feel panic in the air. These are just regular people getting on with their lives.<\/p>\n \u2018London has always been a great multicultural city. Our Jewish community brings us so much.<\/p>\n \u2018They are an integral part of the fabric of this city.\u2019<\/p>\n Got a story?<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Mandatory](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SEI_296389210-fdce.jpg\")
\n\t\tBoy George will be competing in Eurovision for the first time\u2026 but not for the UK (Picture: Shutterstock)<\/p>\n![\"LONDON,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SEI_296389253-23bc.jpg\")
\n\t\tBoy George wrote the song as performed by San Marino\u2019s Senhit (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Mandatory](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SEI_296389250-839d.jpg\")
\n\t\tBoy George rose to fame as a member of Culture Club (Picture: Shutterstock)<\/p>\n![\"10](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SEI_296389190-d79a.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe singer has come under scrutiny for his continued involvement in this year\u2019s Eurovision (Picture: Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
\nMORE: Eurovision favourite has a secret weapon other acts can\u2019t bank on<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: How Vienna is preparing for Eurovision 2026 while police brace for protests<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: BBC confirms surprise Strictly star replacing Scott Mills as Eurovision 2026 TV host<\/a><\/p>\n