What is Boy George’s religion? Face tattoos, chanting and yoga after heroin addiction

Pop icon Boy George is part of this year’s I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! line-up. The singer who practises yoga and chanting has made many curious about his religion

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I’m A Celeb: Boy George and Scarlette Douglas go rowing

The latest series of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! has kicked off on ITV, with pop singer Boy George being one of the highest-paid members of this year’s line-up, which also includes the likes of Matt Hancock and Mike Tindall.

Known for the multitude of tattoos on his head and face, frequently covered up by a hat – his signature accessory – Boy George seems intent on winning the survival show, saying he won’t find sleep deprivation or the gruelling rice-and-beans diet a problem.

The flamboyant musician has sparked curiosity about his religion, especially after he was spotted chanting on the launch show – a practice he previously said helps keep him “sane”.

What is Boy George’s religion? Boy George regularly practises chanting and yoga (

Image:

ITV)

Boy George – real name George Alan O’Dowd – has spoken about how he had a “strong Catholic upbringing” before embracing Nichiren Buddhism, which he has been practising for the last four years.

Nichiren Buddhism is a type of Mahayana Buddhism derived from the teachings of a 13th century Japanese priest called Nichiren. Its believers hold that all sentient beings have the inherent ability to gain Buddhahood in their current life existence.

George told HuffPost: “I always say I’m Catholic in my complications and Buddhist in my aspirations.”

The 61-year-old icon, who emerged from the end of his band Culture Club with a heroin addiction, has been living a sober and clean lifestyle due to his religious beliefs.

He has given up meat, alcohol and sugar, preferring to stay gluten-free, and hasn’t touched drugs since getting clean. He lost five stone after sobering up and has learnt Japanese so he can chant in the language.

Speaking of embracing Buddhism, he said: “My appetite for self-destruction and misery is greatly diminished. I’m not interested in being unhappy. It’s a practice that improves my life on a daily basis. It changes the way I behave. It changes the way I behave towards myself, towards other people, and I would highly recommend it.”

The musician regularly practises yoga and chanting, saying he will do them during I’m A Celeb as well.

He said: “I’m going to obviously do yoga and I chant and I know that will annoy some people – so I can hopefully find a space where I can do that because I think that will keep me more sane.”

What do Boy George’s tattoos mean? Boy George’s bare head has been seen covered in tattoos (

Image:

ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Boy George is almost never seen without his striking hats and headwear on.

On the rare occasions he’s been spotted without his hat, his bare head has been seen covered in tattoos.

The singer has the Jewish Star of David tattooed on the top of his head, a lotus flower inked on the back of his head as well as a peace symbol on his temple – widely known to represent support for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

“It’s kind of like all the religions. It’s quasi religious . . . [But] I’m a Buddhist, a practising Buddhist,” he previously explained.

He also has a Christian cross on the side of his face, but hasn’t been inked recently.

“My head was shaved when I had the tattoos done and I was intending to tattoo my whole head, then I just thought, no. It’s too painful,” he said in 2013.

“When I stopped drinking I lost the desire to be tattooed on the head. The top one I had done in Denver when I was quite drunk after a night in a club, ‘Oh yeah, you can tattoo my head; come on, let’s go back to your tattoo parlour’.”

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! 2022