RuPaul's Drag Race UK fans have criticised the show for inviting Boy George to be a celebrity guest on its fourth series, despite facing multiple scandals in his career.
The singer, 61, has been announced as one of the celebrity guest judges on the upcoming series, joining names such as Alison Hammond, Mel B and Dame Joanna Lumley.
But some fans have slammed the BBC Three show for including Boy George in the line-up because of his troubled past, including facing accusations of transphobia for saying gender pronouns are a 'modern form of attention seeking'.
Slammed: RuPaul's Drag Race UK fans have criticised the show for inviting Boy George to be a celebrity guest on its fourth series, despite facing multiple scandals in his career
The Culture Club star has battled drug and alcohol addictions and in 2009, was jailed for 15 months for the assault and false imprisonment of Norwegian male sex worker Audun Carlsen during a 'psychotic episode'.
Boy George, whose real name is George Alan O'Dowd, has since turned over a new leaf and celebrated a decade of sobriety in 2018, while he is also a resident mentor on The Voice Australia.
But some RuPaul's Drag Race fans claimed he is a 'poor choice' to appear on the competitive reality TV series because of his past scandals, taking to Twitter to share their discontent at the news.
One person wrote: 'Boy George ruined this line-up.'
Under fire: The singer, 61, has been announced as one of the celebrity guest judges on the upcoming series. Pictured: RuPaul
Another fumed: 'Convicted abuser and hater of trans people? That Boy George? Huh. Seems like a poor choice.'
A third said: 'Not Boy George.'
A fourth raged: 'Boy george the man who kidnapped and handcuffed a sex worker to a wall and beat him with a chain??? that boy george??? having preferred pronouns is attention seeking' boy george??'
While a fifth added: 'I, and thousands of other abused Queer men, will see Boy George on that show and feel sickened and hurt. It's a reminder that victims don't matter when the abuser has the power.'
And a sixth said: 'Wait... @dragraceukbbc are having convicted abuser Boy George as a guest on their show? Really? @RuPaul @michellevisage ... this is *bad*. Really really bad. We don't platform Queer abusers.'
Under fire: But some RuPaul's Drag Race fans claimed he is a 'poor choice' to appear on the series because of his troubled past, taking to Twitter to share their discontent at the news
Another commented: 'The rehabilitation of Boy George just shows how comfortable people are with sexual abusers, as long as they're fabulous darling.'
MailOnline has contacted the BBC and Boy George's representatives for comment.
Before reinventing himself, Boy George faced multiple scandals during his career - including drug and alcohol addictions and being jailed for an attack on a male sex worker.
While he's had huge success in the music industry, Boy George was exposed as a heroin addict in the mid-1980s and further drug problems and internal feuding led to Culture Club's demise in 1986.
And in December 2008, Boy George was convicted for the assault and false imprisonment of Norwegian male sex worker Audun Carlsen during a 'psychotic episode' the previous year.
Troubles: The Culture Club star has battled drug and alcohol addictions and in 2009, was jailed for 15 months for the assault and false imprisonment of a Norwegian male sex worker
The superstar shackled Mr Carlsen to a radiator and whipped him with a chain while screaming abuse when he was in the grips of a £400-a-day heroin habit.
The pair had met through the gay dating service Gaydar Commercial, where Mr Carlsen offered his services for '£400 a night'.
Mr Carlsen, then 28, said he was forced into handcuffs by Boy George and another man before he was dragged across the floor, attached to a large bolt on the wall and beaten.
Condemning his 'premeditated', 'callous' and drug-fuelled frenzy which 'traumatised' Mr Carlsen, the judge said Boy George had 'deprived [the victim] of his liberty and his human dignity'.
The star was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment for the attack of 'gratuitous violence', but was released after just four months.
Demons: In December 2008, Boy George (pictured in 2006) was convicted for the assault and false imprisonment of Audun Carlsen during a 'psychotic episode' the previous year
Speaking of the attack in 2020, Boy George sobbed on TV as he described a 'psychotic episode' when he kept Mr Carlsen prisoner in his flat.
He told Piers Morgan on his ITV's Life Stories show that he had not apologised to his Norwegian victim because it 'wouldn't make any difference'.
He said: 'I sent myself to prison. I told the police why I did what I did. In hindsight I was having a psychotic episode. I was a drug addict so I can't sit here and say my reasons for doing it were founded in any way.
'But I told the truth. I said, "This is why I did it. I was having a paranoid episode". I have always denied beating the guy.'
Boy George celebrated a decade of sobriety in early 2018.
Difficulties: Boy George (pictured in March), whose real name is George Alan O'Dowd, has since turned over a new leaf and celebrated a decade of sobriety in 2018
In 2012, he said that practising Nichiren Buddhism was the secret behind his sobriety. By 2014, he had also adopted a completely raw vegan diet.
In May 2018, he spoke of his decade of sobriety to Australian radio station Nova.
Reflecting on his sobriety, George said: 'Obviously when you're in it, it's only when you get quality clean time, as you know, you go, "Oh wow, how did I do that? How the f**k did I do 10 years?"'
He added: 'But I would say everything good in my life is because I'm clean and I'm able to really enjoy what I do in a way I couldn't before.'
But in 2020, he was accused of being 'transphobic' after saying that gender pronouns are a 'modern form of attention seeking'.
Outrage: But in 2020, he was accused of being 'transphobic' after saying that gender pronouns are a 'modern form of attention seeking'
Hitting back: He went on to joke about his comment and defended himself by insisting that there is 'nothing you can teach' him and saying all are welcome in his house
The singer sparked fury after taking to Twitter and telling his followers to 'leave your pronouns at the door'.
Fans insisted they were 'heartbroken' by the comment and felt 'genuinely disappointed' that an LGBTQ+ icon would post such a comment, with one asking: 'What does it take to show others respect by using their preferred pronouns?'
But Boy George hit back, saying: 'Thanks for that but I have eyes and can mostly describe what I see.'
He went on to ensure fans that there is 'nothing you can teach' him as a queer icon whose experience with sexual identity goes beyond 'almost anyone's'.
In response to a fan who said their 'heart was broken' by the comment, the artist said: 'You cannot teach me anything. I am queer. The queerest of the queerest. I have never had an awkward moment with any person I consider ‘other’ and I hope I never will!'
Flashback: Boy George joined The Voice Australia in 2017. Pictured in the early 80s
He went on: 'I have more experience with sexual identity than almost anyone. April Ashley being my hero as far back as the 70s.'
He also attempted to clear up his comments by insisting he 'should have' said to leave pronouns as you 'won't need them' in his company.
Boy George, who is known for hits including Karma Chameleon with Culture Club, joined The Voice Australia in 2017.
Now, he is joining RuPaul's Drag Race UK as a celebrity guest alongside other big names, including Dame Joanna Lumley, Alison Hammond, Hannah Waddingham, Lorraine Pascale, Mel B, Leomie Anderson and FKA Twigs.
Speaking of joining the show, Boy George said: 'Drag Race is such a phenomena and it has unleashed intense creativity and debate. RuPaul has made the concept of drag into a household name!
'How the f**k did I do 10 years?' Since then, Boy George has turned over a new leaf and celebrated a decade of sobriety in early 2018. Pictured in 2019 in London
'I'm part of the drag daisy chain. Every nice drag queen is my sister and the rest are second cousins! It was a lot of fun being part of the show!'
Other names joining the celebrity line-up include AJ Odudu, Tess Daly, Giovanni Pernice, Aisling Bea, Olly Alexander and Cathy Dennis.
The celebrity guests will appear alongside regular judges RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton.
In the upcoming series, Snatch Game will also see Tess Daly and AJ Odudu offer up their best blankety blanks, while Aisling Bea is also set to bring her touch of comedy to the competition.
Cathy Dennis will also give the queens a song-writing masterclass while Strictly Come Dancing's Giovanni Pernice will prepare the stars for an all-singing and all-dancing challenge.
Career: Boy George is known for hits including Karma Chameleon with Culture Club. He is pictured with bandmates Roy Hay, Jon Moss and Mikey Craig in 1983
Via Daily mail UK
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