I’m A Celebrity 2022: Boy George recalls moment he came out as gay – Daily Mail

November 12, 2022 News Editor

Boy George told how his father previously expected him to get ‘beat up’ for his fashion choices during I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! on Saturday.

The singer, 61, described how his father Jeremiah attempted to reveal he was gay to his siblings in his younger years but he was stumped as his brothers told their parent they already knew of his sexuality.

Pop star George said: ‘My mum would say [to my dad], “Look at what’s he’s wearing” and my dad used to get his paper [and drop it down to look] and go, “If he wants to get beat up let him go out” and that was it you know?’

Shock: Boy George, 61, told how his father previously expected him to get ‘beat up’ for his fashion choices during I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! on Saturday

His campmate, Loose Women anchor and ITV newsreader Charlene White, 42, asked: ‘Was it a surprise to anybody when you were dating boys?’

Boy George said: ‘No. My dad used to do this thing in the car, he’d turn down the music when he was going to make an announcement.

‘My brothers were all going to work, he was like radio down, he goes, “I need to tell you about your brother”. They said, “We know, turn the music up.”‘

Standing out from the crowd: Pop star Boy George is known for his unique sense of style (pictured in 1983)

Family affair: George (centre) is pictured with his father Jeremiah (left) and mother Dinah in 1985

Meanwhile, the performer discussed how Culture Club got its name before saying he threatened to walk away from the band if Karma Chameleon was not included on their record.

The song was featured on the group’s 1983 album Colour by Numbers and it became their second single to reach the top of the charts after their 1982 hit Do You Really Want to Hurt Me.

Karma Chameleon remained at number one for six weeks and became the UK’s biggest-selling single of the year. It also spent three weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1984.

Opening up: The singer described how his father attempted to reveal he was gay to his siblings in his younger years but he was stumped as his brothers told their parent they already knew of his sexuality

Discussion: Pop star George said: ‘My mum would say [to my dad], “Look at what’s he’s wearing” and my dad used to get his paper [and drop it down to look] and go, “If he wants to get beat up let him go out” and that was it you know?’

Wow! Sue Cleaver looked fascinated by what George was saying

Speaking of his bandmates Roy Hay, Jon Moss and Mikey Craig, George said: ‘Karma Chameleon they hated. They hated it.

‘They were like, “It’s the final nail in our coffin, it’s rubbish” and I had to fight to get it onto the record.

‘I had to say, “If you don’t put it on the record, I’m leaving the band.” I did that every week though. I was the queen “stormer outer”.

‘Every time I didn’t get my way I was like, “I’m leaving!”‘

Throwback: Culture Club are pictured on the set of the Karma Chameleon video in 1983 (L-R: Roy Hay, Jon Moss, Boy George and Mikey Craig Various)

Elsewhere, George – who took part in the infamous, gruesome eating Bushtucker Trial on Friday – revealed how the band decided on their name, revealing they had been through a for other options before settling on Culture Club.

He explained: ‘We were called Caravan Club, we were called Can’t Wait Club and then were like, “We’re a Culture Club, look at us. You’re Jewish, I’m Irish, you’re Jamaican, Roy’s an Anglosaxon!”‘

Watch the next live episode of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! on Sunday at 9pm on ITV and ITV Hub.

I’M A CELEBRITY 2022: THE FULL LINEUP

BOY GEORGE

AGE: 61

CLAIM TO FAME: Legendary pop star

PHOBIAS: Being scared

MISSING ANY BIG OCCASIONS? No, I am going straight into the jungle from playing at various festivals and gigs

ROLE IN THE CAMP: In-house dietician reassuring everyone that they will be ok on the jungle diet. And entertainer – I will sing!

BEST ATTRIBUTE: I am a very positive person and I don’t bear any grudges

DREAM CAMPMATE: It would be funny if my ex, Jon Moss, comes on the programme -but I don’t think that will happen!

CHRIS MOYLES

AGE: 48

CLAIM TO FAME: Radio DJ

PHOBIAS: I am petrified of heights. I ended up carrying the bags when we took my girlfriend’s niece once to Go Ape as I am so petrified!

MISSING ANY BIG OCCASIONS? A friend’s birthday, a wedding, and Leeds United matches

ROLE IN THE CAMP: Entertainer. Hopefully I can help shorten everyone’s boredom.

BEST ATTRIBUTE: Hiding food! I am going to fly out early and sneak into the jungle and hide pot noodles everywhere, then I will be everyone’s best friend!

DREAM CAMPMATE: Ant and Dec…let’s see how they cope for 24 hours!

SUE CLEAVER

AGE: 59

CLAIM TO FAME: Playing Eileen Grimshaw in Coronation Street

PHOBIAS: Don’t be ridiculous! I am not going to admit to what I fear most!

MISSING ANY BIG OCCASIONS? Coronation Street and we are expecting another grandchild any day, so hopefully it will arrive before I fly out to Australia.

ROLE IN THE CAMP: I will be more of a mum – that is where I will naturally fit.

BEST ATTRIBUTE: I can cook and I am a good listener, so hopefully I will be a friendly ear for everyone.

DREAM CAMPMATE: Good Morning Britain’s Richard Arnold. He is my TV husband and it would be lovely to have an ally in camp!

SCARLETTE DOUGLAS

AGE: 35

CLAIM TO FAME: Presenter of A Place In The Sun

PHOBIAS: Spiders. There is no point in lying about it! I’ve got an irrational fear about them

MISSING ANY BIG OCCASIONS? Just a holiday which I can postpone

ROLE IN THE CAMP: Mum, cook and morale booster. I always like to look at the positive side in life

BEST ATTRIBUTE: I can cook and I will be good at making sure everything is tidy in camp

DREAM CAMPMATE: Mo Gilligan. He is hilarious and I totally fancy him!

BABATÚNDÉ ALÉSHÉ

AGE: 36

CLAIM TO FAME: Comedian

PHOBIAS: I am scared of absolutely everything. Snakes, rats – I am fearful of them all and I am dreading the trials

MISSING ANY BIG OCCASIONS? I was going on tour but we’ve postponed it now until next year

ROLE IN THE CAMP: Tension breaker. If I can break tension anywhere it starts up in the camp, then I will do that. We don’t need to be bickering as it will be a first-time experience for everyone

BEST ATTRIBUTE: Hopefully I will bring some humour to the camp

DREAM CAMPMATE: I am a big Arsenal fan and so any ex-Arsenal player would be great. I am looking forward to chatting to Ant & Dec about football

SEANN WALSH

AGE: 36

CLAIM TO FAME: Comedian

PHOBIAS: I am not too pleased about rats being in there but I am just trying to pretend it is not happening!

MISSING ANY BIG OCCASIONS? No, I am really looking forward to taking part in this show

BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION YOU WANT TO DISPEL IN THE JUNGLE: People have voiced their feelings about me and I am hoping they will see I am very different. I want to create new memories

ROLE IN THE CAMP: I am a great listener. I can’t cook but if someone would like to teach me, then I will give it a go

BEST ATTRIBUTE: I don’t want to put myself down but if my friends were to answer this question, they would say there isn’t much Seann can do! I am not really bringing too much to the table which is why I am a good listener!

DREAM CAMPER: Lee Evans, anyone from Blink-182 or Boy George. My mum took me to see him at Wembley and he wore a satellite dish as a hat!

MIKE TINDALL

AGE: 44

CLAIM TO FAME: Rugby Union player and married to Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall

PHOBIAS: I haven’t admitted to having any phobias but in a weird way, I am looking forward to taking part in the trials!

MISSING ANY BIG OCCASIONS? My podcast series and the rugby Internationals this autumn

ROLE IN THE CAMP: Morning motivator. I would like to see everyone get on well and us all have a great experience

BEST ATTRIBUTE: I am a positive person

DREAM CAMPMATE: Samuel L Jackson would be cool. He has lived the life!

OWEN WARNER

AGE: 23

CLAIM TO FAME: Playing Romeo Nightingale in Hollyoaks

PHOBIAS: Snakes!

MISSING ANY BIG OCCASIONS? I am a big fan of football so I will miss watching the start of the World Cup

ROLE IN THE CAMP: Entertainer and games coordinator

BEST ATTRIBUTE: It is definitely not my cooking skills or brains!

DREAM CAMPMATE: Any of the Leicester City starting 11!

CHARLENE WHITE

AGE: 42

CLAIM TO FAME: ITV newsreader and Loose Women anchor

PHOBIAS: I am not sure what my fear factor will be because I’ve never had rodents, spiders and snakes crawling all over me!

MISSING ANY BIG OCCASIONS? My children’s annual school ball which I am gutted about

ROLE IN THE CAMP: Mum and cook. I don’t mind falling into that position

BEST ATTRIBUTE: I like to listen and talk. I love learning about people and I have a natural curiosity for people

DREAM CAMPMATE: Colin Murray and Richard Osman

JILL SCOTT

AGE: 35

CLAIM TO FAME: Retired England Lioness

PHOBIAS: I don’t like rats and the thought of being underground fills me with fear!

MISSING ANY BIG OCCASIONS? The Men’s World Cup. I am going to find it weird not being able to know how the men are getting on in the tournament. Hopefully they will still be in the tournament when I come out of the jungle

ROLE IN THE CAMP: Helping hand. I like to help people if they aren’t having a good day

BEST ATTRIBUTE: Hard worker. I will always find a way to add value. I am also very honest

DREAM CAMPMATE: Another sports person would be great as it would be someone to bounce ideas off.

OLIVIA ATTWOOD

OLIVIA ATTWOOD – EXITED THE SHOW

AGE: 31

CLAIM TO FAME: Love Island star

PHOBIAS: I hate the dark so I’m keen to avoid any challenges in the darkness

MISSING ANY BIG OCCASIONS? No, had the show been on air any later, I could have missed my sister’s wedding

ROLE IN THE CAMP: Clown. I was always the class clown at school and I love having a laugh

BEST ATTRIBUTE: I don’t take myself seriously and I have got a good sense of humour

DREAM CAMPMATE: A pop legend like Dolly Parton who has amazing stories to tell

MATT HANCOCK

AGE: 44

CLAIM TO FAME: Politician

PHOBIAS: Snakes. I don’t thankfully suffer from claustrophobia –or I think I don’t!

BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION YOU WANT TO DISPEL IN THE JUNGLE: Politicians are people too and it will be nice for people to see me as me. We are human too

ROLE IN THE CAMP: I like to muck in, and I think I will be collecting a lot of firewood. I like cooking too