Singer Boy George has voiced strong support for trans youth and criticised author JK Rowling during an appearance on ITV’s Lorraine, calling her a “muggle” and dismissing claims that parents push children to be trans as “ridiculous”.
The Culture Club frontman, 64, pushed back on misinformation, stating that it is usually children who inform their parents about their gender identity. “When I was a kid, when I was seven, it was obvious to everyone that I was gay, but, you know, I didn’t know what it was,” he shared. “Parents often know but they don’t say anything, they think if they don’t talk about it, it will go away.”
He elaborated, “Usually with trans kids, it’s the kid that informs the adult through different behaviour. You know, if a little girl is not ‘acting’ like a little girl should. Usually it’s the children that inform the adults.”
Appearing on the morning show, George spoke about the reality faced by trans youth in the UK, calling it a “nightmare” and a “struggle”. Drawing from friends with trans children, he said many are unsure about how to support their kids.
“They ask me, ‘Should I wait until their kid is 18 or 21?’ and what the ‘right thing’ is to do,” he said. “All of that stuff, is, you know, it’s real-life stuff. It’s no two celebrities bickering on the internet.”
The pop icon recently clashed with Harry Potter author JK Rowling on social media platform X, over her stance on trans rights. Addressing the spat on Lorraine, George said, “It’s hilarious… I’m having a row with someone I’ve never met, probably never will meet.”
He continued, “In the movies, she creates this beautiful, magical world, but in real life she’s a muggle. It’s very disappointing. I think for most people it doesn’t matter. It matters only whether you’re a nice person or a horrible person. Nobody chooses to be trans or gay. No one chooses to have blue eyes, it just happens.”
Calling Rowling “creative,” George concluded that it was “sad” to see her hold such views, before adding with a grin, “I bet she’s watching now. Morning! Get over it!”
