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Boy George Withdraws from ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ Over AI Song

8/3/2026

36 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Boy George withdrew from the London Palladium revival of “Jesus Christ Superstar” after backlash over his AI-generated song “We Will Dance Again.”
Manager Paul Kemsley said on Instagram he pulled George to respect the producers and keep the focus on the show.
Actor Richard Armitage will cover the King Herod performances from August 3 to August 15, 2026.
George split from record-label manager Tony Pontius after Pontius refused to release the song.

History

Historical Context

OpenAI, the San Francisco AI lab that launched ChatGPT in November 2022, has faced a wave of copyright lawsuits since 2023 over music used to train its models. The dispute echoes the recent backlash against Boy George’s AI-generated “We Will Dance Again,” prompting entertainment industry firms to tighten contracts and consider new legislation.

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Story summary

Boy George withdrew from the London Palladium revival of “Jesus Christ Superstar” after backlash over his AI-generated song “We Will Dance Again.”
Manager Paul Kemsley said on Instagram he pulled George to respect the producers and keep the focus on the show.
Actor Richard Armitage will cover the King Herod performances from August 3 to August 15, 2026.
George split from record-label manager Tony Pontius after Pontius refused to release the song.

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