Boy George had to wear a bulletproof vest on stage while touring America because he was bombarded with death threats.
The gay icon had to take special security measures at a Culture Club gig in Louisiana in the 1980s after receiving threats from religious groups.
But, he said having to wear the bulletproof vest annoyed him because “it made me look really fat”.
The 59-year-old singer-songwriter said: “People [in America] were genuinely gorgeous but there were a few times [he received threats].
Boy George had to wear a bulletproof vest on stage while touring America (Image: Getty Images)
“In fact there was one night on Halloween when I had to go on stage wearing a bulletproof vest.
“I wasn’t happy about that because it made me look really fat so I was really miserable about it.
“There were a few times, I used to get a lot of those sort of religious groups coming to the gigs with signs saying ‘if sex is a sin what is Boy George?’ and all of that stuff.
Culture Club disbanded in the late 80s, with Boy George going on to enjoy a solo career (Image: Getty Images for Gabrielle’s Ang)
“They moved on to Marilyn Manson but for years we used to get those people and I used to sort of open the top of the limousine and get out and blow them a kiss.”
Born George Alan O’Dowd, Boy George’s career skyrocketed in the 80s as the lead singer of Culture Club.
The group’s hit songs Karma Chameleon, Do You Really Want to Hurt Me and Time (Clock of the Heart) climbed the charts, with sellout tours across the UK and US.
Culture Club disbanded in the late 80s but later reunited in the 90s and noughties for much-anticipated gigs before their international fanbase.
Boy George also enjoyed a thriving solo career after Culture Club split, releasing his first solo album Sold in 1987.
A hit, the album featured the chart-topping track Everything I Own, which reached UK number one.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
