Boy George faces major career blow as Culture Club star wrestles with millions of pounds of debts

BOY George is on the verge of losing the right to use his stage name as he wrestles with millions of pounds of debts.

The singer, whose showbiz company has gone bust, could also see the name of his band Culture Club given to a finance company.

The 63-year-old star, born George O’Dowd, trademarked the name Boy George in 2014 but documents seen by The Sun on Sunday show the protection expired in December.

The trademark for Culture Club, the 1980s band he fronted, also ran out shortly before Christmas.

It is part of a legal battle which could see the band’s back catalogue — including hits Karma Chameleon and It’s a Miracle — pass to a company specialising in making money from old songs.

The firm that handled the band’s gig money, Mispocha Touring, went bust in 2023. It is run by George and two of his Culture Club bandmates, Mikey Craig and Roy Hay.

A report shows it owes media finance specialist MEP Capital £1.37million and failure to repay the cash will result in the band’s name, the name Boy George and the band’s back catalogue being taken from them.

The band also has debts of nearly £12million — most of which is owed to US concert promoter Live Nation.

It has been given a repayment plan by administrators who are demanding £500,000 every six months until December 2027.

Meanwhile, George, who entered I’m a Celebrity in 2022 to earn much-needed cash, is renting out his plush Hampstead home in North London as he attempts to pay off his bills.

The Sun revealed two years ago that the star faced a £1.75million damages claim brought by former bandmate and ex-boyfriend Jon Moss, 65, but they settled out of court.

Drummer Moss, in a secret relationship with George at the height of Culture Club’s fame, was sacked in September 2018 and spent £1million on his legal fight.