‘Better offer’: Waleed Aly’s awkward Boy George snub on The Project

Music legend Boy George was a surprise fill-in panellist on The Project last night, but things got awkward when Waleed Aly called in from London.

Boy George popped up as an unlikely panellist on The Project Wednesday night, where he copped a rather brutal snub from host Waleed Aly.

The British music legend, 62, joined host Sarah Harris, Hamish Macdonald and Sam Taunton on the Channel 10 show to promote Culture Club’s Australian tour this month, while Aly was notably missing.

About halfway into the program, Aly called in from London to explain why he was “MIA” for George’s big cameo.

The Australian broadcaster said he was on assignment to cover The Rolling Stone’s major announcement of their first studio album in 18 years, titled Hackney Diamonds, which they unveiled to much fanfare at an event in London’s East End on Wednesday, which was hosted by American TV host Jimmy Fallon.

Waleed Aly was absent from The Project Thursday night, telling fill-in panellist Boy George he had a "better offer".

Aly scored “dream” interviews with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, telling George, “Frankly, I ditched you guys because I got a better offer”.

The comment was met with gasps from the panellists, with George appearing slightly stunned.

Aly doubled down, saying, “I think you would agree it’s a better offer. It’s a better offer than most offers”.

Waleed George initially appeared slightly stunned.

But, he conceded, “I absolutely want to be Mick Jagger when I grow up.”

The Karma Chameleon hit maker quickly salvaged the awkward scenes, quipping: “I absolutely want to be Mick Jagger when I grow up, who doesn’t?”

The Stones’ 24th album – their first release since the death of drummer Charlie Watts in 2021 – will come out on October 20, and marks the iconic British band’s first original material since 2005’s A Bigger Bang.

Two of the 12 tracks were recorded with Watts in 2019, while the others feature Steve Jordan, who replaced the late musician.

Aly scored an interview with Jagger.

“We didn’t want to make just any record and put it out,” Jagger told a launch event at the Hackney Empire theatre in East London.

“I’m not saying we’re big-headed about it but we’re pleased with it and we hope you all like it.”

The single Angry will be the first song to come out.

Wood added that US pop star Lady Gaga features on their track Sweet Sound of Heaven.

The Rolling Stones’ last studio album was 2016’s Blue & Lonesome, which was entirely covers of blues records.

“We’ve been very lazy,” Jagger said of their lack of new music in recent decades. “We’ve been on the road most of the time.”