Boy George was honoured at the British LGBT Awards for his contribution to British musical culture and also won music artist of the year.
Boy George received a lifetime achievement honour at the British LGBT Awards in central London, with organisers recognising what they described as his significant contribution to British musical culture.
The award was a surprise for the Culture Club singer and was presented by French fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier. The ceremony also brought a second win for the 64-year-old musician, who beat nominees including Charli XCX and Doja Cat to take music artist of the year.
Speaking to the BBC after the ceremony, Boy George said the lifetime achievement honour was a “genuine surprise.” He added: “I feel so emotional, I was sitting there with my best friends… and I can't even tell you how beautiful it was.”
He called Gaultier’s role in the moment “very special,” saying the designer had been a constant supporter through different phases of his career. “Every time I've played in Paris or London, whether I've been big or small in my career, he has always been there,” he said.
Boy George, whose real name is George O'Dowd, is best known as the voice of Culture Club and for the 1980s hit “Karma Chameleon.” He also became one of British pop’s most recognisable style figures, challenging gender conventions in fashion with make-up and ribbons in his hair during early television appearances, including on Top of the Pops in 1982.
The honour comes after his recent Eurovision disappointment, when he appeared as a guest performer on San Marino’s entry, which did not reach the final. Before the awards, he told the BBC he would rather write the UK’s 2027 Eurovision entry than perform it, arguing that the song should come before the singer.
The British LGBT Awards have been held annually since 2014 and are attended by celebrities, campaigners and LGBTQ+ allies. This year’s ceremony was presented by Ruby Wax and Tom Read Wilson. Other winners included Kate Winslet, who received an advocate award by video message, and Stephen Libby, whose shared win on series four of The Traitors was named media moment of the year.
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