Boy George will enter I'm A Celebrity as one of their biggest stars ever.
ITV announced this year's I'm A Celebrity lineup and, as they're heading back to the Australian jungle for the first time in years, they're taking a star-studded cast with them. The lineup includes Love Island contestants and soap actors but the musical legend will also join the ranks as the biggest spend in the show's history.
Boy George has been in the public eye for over four decades but admitted he's excited for people to see another side of him. Through his ups and downs, his fans have stayed with him, originally flocking to his side for being the frontman of the groundbreaking, pop-moulding band, Culture Club.
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Why is Boy George famous?
Boy George is known to the masses for being Culture Club's lead singer, a staple of 80s pop that transcended the upcoming decades with its catchy new wave and soul feel. Known formally as George Alan O'Dowd, he adopted the stage name Boy George when he formed the group in the 1980s.
This wasn't his first option, however, as he ran with the title of Lieutenant Lush when he was with the group Bow Wow Wow beforehand. The name Culture Club was derived from how multicultural the band was, featuring Irish, black, English and Jewish members.
Boy George's androgynous style catapulted the band's image far beyond their rivals as it was a divisive subject for most. Already a talking point with the public, several years after taking off, their smash hit track Karma Chamelon catapulted their careers into the stratosphere.
Taken as a single from their second album, the success put them on magazines and charts across the world as they became one of the biggest musical influences of the 80s. What followed was smash after smash as they bagged nearly every award they were nominated for due to their future releases continuing to build on their reputation as industry sensations.
Despite their runaway success, the band split near the end of the decade due to internal conflict and accusations drug use was getting in the way of their relationship with each other.
Prison
Boy George had a dark period in his life when he spent 11 months in prison after being convicted for the assault and false imprisonment of Auden Carlsen, who upon their second meeting was handcuffed to a wall fixture and beaten by the singer.
He was sentenced to 15 months in prison, was released four months early due to good behaviour, and wore an ankle monitor for the remainder of his sentence.
He has since opened up about his prison stint, telling Reader’s Digest back in 2021: "I always maintained that jail would finish me off, but it didn’t. You somehow find the strength. It was a life-changing experience and I feel I came out of that situation with some wisdom and knowledge… I really don’t view that period in my life as a negative… but I wouldn’t want to go back."
Who is Boy George dating and does he have children?
His private life has typically remained private for the majority of the time he has been in the public eye. There was speculation about his sexuality in the 80s which he often brushed aside, simply stating he was bisexual.
However, in his 1995 autobiography Take It Like A Man, George stated that he was in fact gay, not bisexual. He also claimed to have had secret relationships with punk rock singer Kirk Brandon and fellow band member Culture Club drummer, Jon Moss.
Boy George does not have any children nor is he married but it is unclear whether or not he is dating anyone at the moment.
Net Worth
Given his showstopping career, crafting some of the most influential tracks in British pop history, it's no surprise he's going into I'm A Celebrity as their most expensive buy ever - £500,000.
With a lengthy discography, multiple television hosting gigs, and countless awards including Grammy's under his belt, Celebrity Net Worth are estimated Boy George enjoys a hefty £43.8m price tag.
His fashion line, B-Rude, and multiple memoirs have also helped bumped up the star's net worth as did appearing as a regular judge on The Voice UK and The Voice Australia, where he was offered £1.6m for his first year.
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