Boy George has launched an attack on his former Culture Club bandmate claiming he left him facing bankruptcy a few years ago.
Formed in 1981, the original line-up for the English new wave band included Boy George – real name George Alan O’Dowd – Roy Hay, Mikey Craif and Jon Moss.
One of the most influential groups of the decade, Culture Club have sold over 50 million records, with some of their biggest hits including Do You Really Want to Hurt Me, Karma Chameleon and Time (Clock of the Heart).
However, in recent years they’ve come under the spotlight for a bitter feud between the lead singer and the band’s former drummer Moss – who also had an intimate relationship with Boy George during the height of the band’s popularity.
In 2018 Moss dropped out of the European leg of their The Life Tour, with a statement explaining he was ‘taking a break from Culture Club…but the door is open in the future’.
The following year he filed a writ at London’s High Court, in which he named his former bandmates and defendants and claimed he was ‘expelled’ from group by their manager after 37 years in the band. He then demanded £200,000 in missing payments and a share of profits.
After officially leaving Culture Club in 2021, two years later Moss’ former bandmates agreed to pay him £1.75million – with the court order then leaving the frontman facing bankruptcy.
Although that did not eventuate as a voluntary arrangement was reached in relation to the debt, Boy George recently made it clear there was no love lost with Moss after the breakdown of their professional and personal relationship.
On Boxing Day, the official Culture Club X account posted a photo of the group that also featured Moss to accompany a message looking forward to next year.
‘Sending lots of love this holiday season from all of us in Culture Club. Here’s to more music, more joy, and dancing with you again in 2026!’ it read.
However, Boy George jumped into the comments section and made it clear Moss was no longer part of the group – whilst also adding a brutal dig.
‘I hate to correct this, but Jon is no longer in CC. He tried to bankrupt me in the last couple of years so I hope the Xmas tree falls on his head! Lol!’ he wrote.
‘His leaving and attempts to destroy me did however inspire these songs.’
When the court battle was made public, it was revealed that Moss claimed Boy George had attempted to defraud him out of what he was owed after tour funds were released to a company reportedly owned the singer.
But, hitting back, Boy George said the allegations were a ‘personal attack’.
In a statement, he shared: ‘My former band member Jon Moss has made the most unfounded and hurtful allegations against me in legal proceedings in the UK. Needless to say, his allegations that I conspired to defraud him are entirely untrue.’
Moss – who spent over £1million on the legal dispute – had also attempted to prevent Boy George from selling his Hampstead home, however it was later placed back up for sale for £17million.
The case was eventually settled before it went to trial. Once the court case wrapped up, Moss agreed to ‘relinquish’ any right to the Culture Club name and its use, including in connection with concerts and merchandise, but was awarded £1.75million – which was to be paid by his three former bandmates.
It also came months after Boy George’s stint on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2022, in which he was reportedly paid over £800,000.
A few months earlier, Boy George said the following about his former lover: ‘I feel I have much to be upset about, but I have to the best of my knowledge removed any real hatred towards him.’
Earlier this year it was revealed that Boy George had only paid £1,000 of the agreed sum.
Despite the limited amount of money paid back to Moss, he told The Sun on Sunday: ‘I’m working hard to pay back all my debt. My advice is, don’t sleep with the drummer.’
Although Culture Club split in 1986 due to Boy George’s drug addiction issues, they reunited in 1998 and have released two albums since then, as well as continue to tour together.
Metro has contacted representatives for Jon Moss for comment.
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