Boy George arrested in New York on drug charges
Last Updated: Friday, October 7, 2005 | 7:23 PM ET
CBC Arts
Pop star Boy George was arrested in New York Friday for suspicion of possessing cocaine after he called police to report a burglary at his Manhattan apartment, police said.
Boy George, whose real name is George O'Dowd, and who made his name with the 1980s pop band Culture Club, called police early Friday morning to report a burglary.
But when police arrived a little after 3 a.m., they say they found the door open, and were greeted by the singer who asked them simply, "What's up?"
Musician Boy George on Friday, April 22, 2005 in New York (AP Photo/Adam Rountree)
Police spokesman Det. Eric Crisafi said Boy George then staggered about his apartment apparently in "a drugged stupor," and police found a small amount of cocaine next to his computer.
He was held at a New York police station before being transferred Friday to Manhattan Criminal Court for arraignment on drug possession charges as well as for falsely reporting a burglary.
It was unclear what prison term, if any, he faces, since police said they have yet to determine with precision what quantity of drugs may have been in his apartment.
Boy George's musical Taboo closed in New York last year after losing money. Taboo was the story of Boy George's rise to fame in the eighties, when flamboyant cross-dressers reigned in London clubs and Culture Club topped pop charts around the world.
The son of an Irish builder, George became a pop icon and a multimillionaire in the eighties.
He became an international star in 1982 with the song Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?, topped hit parades in 18 countries. Culture Club went on to sell almost 20 million albums. Other famous Culture Club songs included Karma Chameleon and I'll Tumble 4 Ya.
Boy George was known for his androgynous style in a decade which celebrated androgyny. He wore his hair long, braided and rainbow-coloured, his makeup thick and stylized, and he dressed in baggy, colourful outfits.
Early in his career, Boy George denied being gay, but later agreed he was. Throughout his career he was the target of much tabloid speculation, and he famously once claimed that rather than have sex, he would prefer "a nice cup of tea."
In 1995, Boy George recounted his heroin-induced fall from grace in his autobiography Take It Like A Man, in which he wrote about his convictions and relapses and how he had finally kicked his habit in 1987.
In recent years, Boy George has developed a new career as a respected club DJ and record producer. He is the author of two memoirs and a cookbook.
