UNITED STATES REFUSES BOY GEORGE

Boy George

Troubled singer Boy George has been refused entry into the United States because of his 2006 conviction for lying about a burglary at his New York City apartment. The former Culture Club singer, real name George O’Dowd - was due to return to New York City, where he planned to perform a series of concerts over the summer. Among the series, O’Dowd was set to pay tribute to New York Department of Sanitation workers on the organization’s annual Family Day on August 17th as a gesture of appreciation for helping him get through his five day community service sentence in 2006. But his visa application has been turned down, just days after lifestyle guru Martha Stewart was banned from travelling to the U.K. from her native America because of her criminal record. George says, "I’m pretty devastated because I am so excited about this forthcoming tour and having my visa application denied seems unfair after I swept the streets of New York spotless."There are a number of public figures who are openly using drugs and they have no problem with immigration… I have seriously turned my life around and I feel great right now, and this is just another reminder of how bad things were."I committed a crime and I happily paid the consequences, and I should be allowed to move on and get on with what I do best and that is performing and making people dance and cry!"

Editors Note: Let Boy George back in this country. We love having him around New York City. He is a icon and deserves a second chance.