A New York judge has criticised Boy George because of his failure to pay a fine or to begin the community service he was sentenced to earlier this year relating to that incident back in October 2005 when the singer was charged with drugs offences, and with falsely reporting a burglary. As previously reported, the ex Culture Club star managed, by way of a plea bargain, to get away with a fine of just $1000 and five days community service, when he appeared in court in March.
As it turns out, the singer, real name George O'Dowd, has neither paid the fine nor performed the community service, and appears to be prevaricating about doing so. At a hearing in New York last week, Judge Anthony Ferrara issued an arrest warrant for O'Dowd because he had not appeared at court to account for why he had refused to begin his community service; the reason, apparently being that he did not wish to do what he was asked to do - sweep the streets - because of the inevitable media attention. A lawyer for the former pop star explained: "There's nothing wrong with that if that's part of his punishment, but it will turn into a media circus, and the press will be following him every day."
The judge ridiculed the singer's suggestions for the kinds of community service he might be willing to do. Those suggestions apparently included helping teenagers create a public service announcement, staging a fashion and make-up workshop and playing a DJ set at a benefit for AIDS sufferers. On the street sweeping Ferrara conceded "it's humiliation," but added that O'Dowd had accepted "a deal that had an element of humiliation". He went on to say: "he doesn't serve himself well by not paying the fine... we know he has the means. I put people in jail who don't pay fines. Why shouldn't I do that?"
Boy George has one more chance to appear in court, on 26 Jun, before that arrest warrant is acted upon.