The ongoing public dispute between music icon Boy George and celebrated author JK Rowling has intensified, with the Culture Club frontman dismissing concerns about transgender individuals in female changing rooms as 'imagined fears'.
The latest exchange in a long-running feud
The 64-year-old singer has reignited his war of words with the Harry Potter creator, who has faced significant criticism for her gender-critical views from both trans activists and members of her own film franchise's cast.
In his most recent comments to Blitzed magazine, George accused Rowling of promoting what he called 'created hysteria' around transgender people. The singer claimed such fears are largely stirred up on the internet rather than reflecting real-world experiences.
'There are two worlds: the internet world and the one you actually live in,' George stated. 'When in the actual world do you see drag queens in the daylight or actually encounter a trans woman in a bathroom? It's imagined fear, and so unlikely that it seems like a created hysteria.'
Historical context of the celebrity clash
This isn't the first time the two public figures have clashed over transgender issues. Their public disagreement began in April when George suggested that Rowling couldn't distinguish between a transgender woman and a biological man.
At that time, the singer described the author as a 'rich bored bully' and accused her of hating men. Rowling promptly fired back on social media, denying the allegation with a simple statement: 'I do not hate men.'
The Harry Potter author elaborated on her position by citing crime statistics, noting that 'men - however they identify - commit 98 per cent of sexual assaults, and 88 per cent of victims are female.' She added that 'trans-identified men are no less likely than other kinds of men to pose a risk to women or girls.'
Wider celebrity involvement in the debate
Boy George isn't alone in his support for transgender rights within celebrity circles. He joins other high-profile figures including Tilda Swinton and Pedro Pascal, who previously branded Rowling a 'heinous loser' on Instagram.
Meanwhile, Rowling has faced criticism from several stars of the Harry Potter films, including Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, who have publicly expressed support for transgender people.
The author's stance on transgender issues dates back several years. In 2018, a spokesperson explained that her 'like' of a tweet calling trans women 'men in dresses' had been a 'middle-aged moment'.
More recently, following a Supreme Court judgment on April 17, Rowling has consistently referred to transgender women as being 'men'. The ruling concluded that the legal definition of a woman was that of a biological female when interpreting the Equality Act.
Despite the ongoing controversy, Boy George expressed reluctance to continue the public debate, telling the magazine: 'I can't bear to give her any more attention.' However, he couldn't resist adding his perspective on the broader discussion about gender and safety.
The singer concluded with a characteristically blunt assessment: 'I can't stand this whole "men are evil monsters" bullshit. Some men are hideous, but so are some women. Not all trans people are nice.'
