The Voice Australia 2019: Boy George reveals reason for walkout

After stunning coaches and audience alike by storming off stage, an “embarrassed” Boy George has revealed why he went AWOL.

Boy George has returned to The Voice Australia stage after suffering “a bit of a diva moment” and storming off the show during its premiere.

Things went awry during Sunday night’s episode when Melbourne busker Daniel Show wowed all four of the coaches during his blind audition.

Trying to persuade him to join his team, Boy George asked: “Do you play guitar?”

“I can play guitar but no one really cares if I play guitar,” Daniel replied.

The comment rubbed the Culture Club singer the wrong way and he grabbed his phone and walked off set.

“F**k off, don’t follow me,” Boy George yelled at the show’s executive producer Leigh Aramberri backstage.

After a full day with no Artists, @BoyGeorge has had enough. Where'd you go George? #WheresGeorge 🎩❓#TheVoiceAU pic.twitter.com/1KyzamkS44

— The Voice Australia (@TheVoiceAU) May 19, 2019

“I’m annoyed. He turns around and goes to me, ‘Who cares if I play guitar?’ That’s not cool. I’m not going back. F**k off.”

The other coaches were left in stunned disbelief after his hasty exit, with Boy George vowing not to return to set as the episode ended.

But on Monday night Aramberri explained Boy George had misheard Shaw’s comments about playing guitar.

“So I just went down and saw George out, he was upset about what the artist had said to him,” he told coaches Guy Sebastian, Delta Goodrem and Kelly Rowland.

The show’s executive producer explained to the other Voice coaches why Boy George had walked off

Backstage a calmer Boy George admitted he “misheard” the contestant’s comments

“He kind of thought he was giving him an opportunity to talk about the guitar and then the artist said ‘no-one cares if I play guitar,’ Daniel said that, and it just struck a nerve with George.”

“I don’t think that kid meant anything like that,” Sebastian said.

“I tried to explain it to George but he just needs a little bit of time to cool down … I think he’s having a tough time because there’s no-one on his team yet,” Aramberri replied.

“I think he’s just struggling with that a little bit so we’ll just let him have a bit of space. He’s fine, he just needs time to cool down.”

Backstage and with some time to think Boy George laughed off his outburst, admitting he had misunderstood the singer’s reply.

“I’m good, I’m good I just misheard what was said and I just went, you know when you just go in the moment,” he explained to Aramberri.

After some time out Boy George was back in the chair

“I’m kind of fine now and I’m a bit embarrassed … I’m cool, I’m not annoyed but I was just annoyed in the moment.

“Sorry! I’ve got to go find somewhere not to be embarrassed.”

After taking some time out Boy George was back in his coach chair and said the incident had been “a bit of a diva moment”.

“I’m back and I’m ready to fight now, I’m going to have fun,” he added. “Passion it just takes you to somewhere, sometimes you care too much but I don’t think that’s a bad thing, I think that it’s a good thing.”

The Voice continues Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel 9