Boy George visits Nova site to meet survivors before Tel Aviv concerts

British pop star Boy George toured the grounds of the Nova music festival massacre at Re'im on Tuesday afternoon. This visit marked his first trip to the site he referenced in his song "We Will Dance Again," arriving during a four-day Israel trip scheduled to conclude with concerts in Tel Aviv on November 4 and November 7.

Dressed in plaid pants, a top hat, and dramatic eye makeup, George walked the sandy paths while survivors and bereaved families guided him through the area. He listened to Jenny Sividia, whose brother and his girlfriend were killed at the rave, and May Hayat, a bartender who escaped the attackers by playing dead. George described the experience as powerful from a spiritual perspective, noting that he observed healing among those present.

He told The Times of Israel that while he spent hours anticipating his reactions, he found the survivors to be simply people who wanted to live in happiness. "An outsider never knows what it's really like," George said. "The one thing they all have in common is they want to live in happiness."

The visit coincided with the arrangement of 1,500 tickets for Nova survivors for George's November 7 show in Tel Aviv. Philanthropist Sylvan Adams, who brought George to Israel, provided these tickets. On Monday, George also met President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem and visited the Western Wall.

Former hostage Omer Shem Tov, a Nova survivor released after 505 days of captivity in Gaza, joined George for what was only his second visit to the site. Shem Tov said he came to the festival to dance and be free with friends. He thanked George for the courage it takes to fly to Israel and perform in the current climate, stating that the visit helps bring people closer.

Ofir Amir, a survivor and organizer of the Tribe of Nova Association, echoed this sentiment. The association's traveling exhibit, which George first saw in London, inspired the song and the visit. Amir said artists have the power to influence millions and a responsibility to ensure hatred does not dominate dance floors. He hopes the visit will inspire other musicians.

George has faced criticism from fellow musicians for his support of Israel since the October 7, 2023 attack, which killed approximately 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. At the Nova festival, 378 people were killed and 44 were taken captive. George said the term "genocide" became a chant, but he was horrified by people with no connection telling him the events were made up. He confirmed the events quickly through Jewish friends in London with contacts in Israel.

Regarding his song, George said he wanted to write something that eclipsed his 1983 hit "Karma Chameleon." He identified the line "If you're ever confused, I stand with the Jews" as the most important part. He plans to sing the high notes as recorded in Tel Aviv. He shrugged off pressure to boycott Israel, including a letter from Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, which he said he put in the bin.