Boy George calls trans bathroom fears ‘imagined’ and 'created hysteria'
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Boy George has dismissed fears of encountering trans women in female bathrooms as “imagined”, arguing that such anxieties are largely manufactured online rather than grounded in everyday reality.
In an interview with Blitzed magazine, the Culture Club frontman said “There are two worlds: the internet world and the one you actually live in. When in the actual world do you see drag queens in the daylight or actually encounter a trans woman in a bathroom? It’s imagined fear, and so unlikely that it seems like a created hysteria.”
The 64-year-old singer likened the notion to a “Harry Potter-style ogre over the hill”, suggesting it is a myth perpetuated by online discourse rather than lived experience. His comments come amid a continuing public spat with author JK Rowling, who has been outspoken on gender-critical issues and the defence of women-only spaces.
It’s imagined fear, and so unlikely that it seems like a created hysteria.
Rowling has argued that allowing trans women into female-only spaces poses risks to women, framing the debate as a matter of safeguarding. Boy George, however, accused the author of being a “rich bored bully” and claimed she “hates men”, while Rowling countered that trans-identified men pose similar risks as other men. The dispute has drawn attention from celebrities including Pedro Pascal and Tilda Swinton, who have expressed support for trans rights.
The exchange reflects a wider cultural and political divide in Britain over gender identity and public spaces. The UK government has faced pressure from campaigners on both sides, with recent proposals to tighten rules around gender recognition and single-sex spaces. Gender-critical activists argue that women’s rights are being eroded, while trans advocates say such measures fuel discrimination and marginalisation.
For Boy George, the debate should focus on individual behaviour rather than identity. “Some men are hideous, but so are some women. Not all trans people are nice. There are two types of people: nice people and c***s,” he said, underscoring his belief that character matters more than gender.
