June 24, 2008 10:56

Boy George banned from the USA

Visa denial puts US tour in doubt

Boy George's forthcoming US tour, set to begin on July 11 in Las Vegas, is in doubt after the singer was denied a US visa by immigration officials.

The star's management released a statement explaining that the visa refusal was in relation to a forthcoming trial in London on false imprisonment charges. George is currently on bail after denying the allegations.

In the statement George was described to be "astounded" at the decision, and hoped the authorities would reconsider his case for a visa to allow him to perform in the USA.

The statement read: "At the moment, Boy George cannot come to the United States of America because he has been refused permission to enter by the USA Administration.

"This is not in respect of anything he has done in the past but because he is facing a trial in November in London for something that happened in April last year.

"George's lawyers in London have absolutely forbidden us to speak about the facts of that case, and all I can say is that George is astounded at the decision and is having lawyers here in the States look at it in the hope that someone will change their mind.

"The proceedings that George faced in London are of course important and serious but George has been given unconditional bail by the police and the courts in London, thereby permitting him to travel anywhere in the world.

"George really would love to come to America and repay his American fans' loyalty, and that is why we are asking the US authorities to reconsider their decision."