I'm A Celebrity... fans have been pointing out Boy George's dark past after he made comments about Matt Hancock's recent history. The pop star had said he would have left the jungle after the Health Secretary's arrival, if his mother - who was in hospital during the Covid pandemic - had died.
Fellow campmate Scarlette Douglas told the serving MP that "people are angry and upset" with him "because a lot of things that happened" during the Covid pandemic. Mr Hancock's role during the Covid-19 pandemic ended in disgrace and his resignation after he was photographed in a clinch with his lover.
And angry and upset I'm A Celebrity viewers have been threatening to complain to Ofcom over Mr Hancock being on the show. However, others suggest they are being hypocritical, because they are ignoring Boy George's past.
After being grilled about his affair and role role during the pandemic, Mr Hancock said: "We all make mistakes. I made a pretty big one." And Sue Cleaver, in the Bush Telegraph, said: "It was the elephant in the room, wasn't it? I was glad that he said it and a line should be drawn beneath it and the elephant has departed."
But, on Twitter, Jez a Bell said: "That's the elephant in the room out of the way. Err, no, the elephant in the room is Boy George handcuffing a bloke to a radiator and going to prison."
The former Culture Club singer, who is thought to be raking in a record fee on I'm a Celeb this year, was sent to jail in 2008. He was found guilty of the assault and false imprisonment of Audun Carlsen, a Norwegian male model, who had initially agreed to a photography session with the singer.
However, Boy George refused to let him leave and handcuffed the model to a wall fixture. The court heard he also beat Mr Carlsen with a metal chain, and the star was convicted of assault - but he has always denied beating Mr Carlsen.
Nonetheless, Boy George was sentenced to 15 months in prison for assault and false imprisonment. His defence team cited the effects of his long-term drug use as a mitigating factor.
George applied to appear on Celebrity Big Brother in 2009 after he was on licensed release from jail. However, this was blocked by the Probation Service.
On Twitter, Dean Irwin said: "Right, now that you've all grilled Matt (and rightly so), how about you grill Boy George about being sentenced to 15 months in prison for handcuffing a model to a radiator and beating him with a metal chain."
However, @ledderstoday said: "He did his time. Time served. It’s called justice. As far as the law is concerned he’s done penance. What time has Matt Hancock served?"
And @pixel_Geek said: "For people saying why aren't they targeting Boy George: He served time in prison for what he did. Was it enough time? No absolutely not. But he was at least held (somewhat) accountable. Matt Hancock has NEVER been held accountable, but he needs to be."
But Boy George's victim recently branded the pop star a "monster". Mr Carlson slammed ITV for giving George “a platform” on the hugely popular show.
He told The Mirror: "Had I been a woman and he did what he did, he would never have been given the platform. It’s hurtful that big organisations like ITV give him that platform. I think giving him this sort of platform and a record fee sends the wrong message to survivors of violence and abuse and is plain wrong.”
Talking to Pier Morgan about the incident in 2017, Boy George said: "I sent myself to prison. I told police why I did what I did. I was having a psychotic episode. I was a drug addict so I can’t say my reasons for doing it were founded in any way. But I told the truth. I have always denied beating the guy.”
A spokesman for Boy George told The Mirror: “George went to jail for four months willingly after openly confessing to false imprisonment during a psychotic break 15 years ago whilst in the midst of a well documented drug problem.
“Not only has he been a pillar of society ever since, but he also remains sober to this day. He apologised publicly on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories and we are very proud of him for his rehabilitation. Everyone is entitled to a second chance and George has certainly earned it.”
- What do you think? Should Boy George be given a second chance? Does Mr Hancock deserve the same? Let us know in our comments section.
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