Boy George eliminated in Eurovision semi-final as Israel’s act faces protests

The Culture Club singer was set to represent San Marino alongside Senhit, but was eliminated at last night’s semi-finals The post Israel meet protests as they qualify for Eurovision, but Boy George fails to make it through appeared first on NME.

Boy George and Senhit on stage during Tuesday's Eurovision Song Contest semi-finalBoy George will not be performing at this year’s Eurovision final after failing to secure a place in the next stage of the competition.On Tuesday night, the Culture Club frontman joined San Marino’s Eurovision entrant Senhit on stage at the semi-finals, where they performed their song Superstar together.However, towards the end of the night, it was revealed that San Marino had not landed enough support to send them through to the final, which is due to take place in Basel this weekend.Posting on X after the semi-final was over, the Karma Chameleon singer thanked his supporters and those who voted for himself and Senhit, before lamenting: “I was sad we didn’t get through to the final but my Eurovision experience has been fabulous. I wouldn’t take a minute of it back.”He added: “Thanks to Senhit and the entire San Marino delegation. What a fun bunch. We will perform together in Milan in July. At the Culture Club show.”If you voted for us, thank you so much, I was sad we didn't get through to the final but my @eurovision experience has been fabulous. I wouldn't take a minute of it back. Thanlks to @senhitofficial and the entire San Marino delegation. What a fun bunch. We will perform together…— Boy George (@BoyGeorge) May 12, 2026Senhit previously competed at Eurovision in 2011 and 2021, the latter of which saw her sharing the stage with the American rapper Flo Rida.Boy George previously defended his decision to take part in Eurovision, despite the calls for a boycott over Israel’s participation, with five nations having withdrawn from the 2026 contest in solidarity with Palestine.He claimed: “I am so affiliated with Jewish people. I am not necessarily affiliated with Israel. I don’t really have an opinion on that. But the job of music is to unite people.”Senhit and Boy George at the Eurovision opening ceremony over the weekendIsrael’s act Noam Bettan did make it through to the Eurovision finals after his performance on Tuesday, although one audience member was removed from the event after loudly protesting during the song.Three more people were also ejected from the arena due to what the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Austrian broadcaster ORF described as “disruptive behaviour”.MORE EUROVISION:Every Country That’s Pulled Out Of Eurovision 2026 Over Israel's ParticipationEurovision Removes Audience Member For Protesting During Israel's PerformanceEurovision Responds To Claims Israel Could Leave Contest To Compete In Asian Version