Posted on 08/14/2006 9:43:41 AM PDT by BJClinton
By SAMANTHA GROSS, Associated Press Writer 44 minutes ago
NEW YORK - With a city-issued broom in his hand, Boy George started his court-ordered community service early Monday, sweeping leaves and trash off the sidewalks of New York.
It took less than an hour for the former Culture Club frontman to get into a spat with the media.
"You think you're better than me?" he yelled. "Go home. Let me do my community service."
Boy George took to the streets of Manhattan as a Department of Sanitation worker wearing an orange vest, dark capri pants, shoes without socks, and without the wild makeup and androgynous style that made him so recognizable as the '80s icon who sang "Karma Chameleon" and "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?"
"This is supposed to be making me humble. Let me do this," he said. "I just want to do my job."
The singer, born George O'Dowd, was ordered to spend five days working for the Department of Sanitation after pleading guilty in March to falsely reporting a burglary at his lower Manhattan apartment. The officers who responded found cocaine instead.
At 7 a.m. Monday, a sport utility vehicle pulled up at a Lower East Side sanitation depot. The agency planned to issue the singer a shovel, broom, plastic bags and gloves for the job of picking up trash on the city's streets.
In June, Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Anthony Ferrara issued a warrant for O'Dowd's arrest after he initially failed to complete the requirements of his plea deal. When O'Dowd appeared in court 10 days later, Ferrara called off the warrant but warned the singer he could not escape his community service commitment.
"It's up to you whether you make it an exercise in humiliation or in humility," Ferrara told O'Dowd.
O'Dowd, 45, initially envisioned a service project more in line with his status as an '80s icon.
He petitioned to spend the time helping teenagers make a public service announcement. Among his other proposals to the court: holding a fashion and makeup workshop, serving as a DJ at an HIV/ AIDS benefit or doing telephone outreach.
Boy George's manager, Jeremy Pearce, told reporters shortly after the singer arrived for his first day on the job: "He doesn't show any kind of emotion about these things. He takes it in his stride."
"He doesn't need to be humiliated," Pearce said. "He's a humble person."
"Things outside in the street were a little chaotic," said Sanitation spokesman Keith Mellis. "We'll see if there's some cleaning that can be done inside."
The sweeping later resumed in a gated Sanitation parking lot.
"This is for everyone's safety," Deputy Sanitation Chief Albert Durrell said as photographers crowded outside the gate. He said the day's work also might include mopping inside the depot.
Boy George appeared to be in good spirits during a late-morning break, waving to reporters on the other side of a chain-link fence and yelling, "How are you?" before returning to work.
___
Associated Press Writer Karen Matthews contributed to this report.
Why, yes, I do want to hurt him.
"Robbie, you'd better get in here..they're starting to turn on George."
"YOU SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!"
So now he's picking it up instead of making it.
heh heh, how about that, trash picking up trash.
where's the ACLU? ...;)
Wasn't picking up trash how he got arrested?
(Lispy Voice) "Oh stop it now, stop it! Leave my man George alone!"
Nope. That's George Micheal. Boy George called the cops claiming someone broke into his home and the cops found his coke stash.
From the article: The singer, born George O'Dowd, was ordered to spend five days working for the Department of Sanitation after pleading guilty in March to falsely reporting a burglary at his lower Manhattan apartment. The officers who responded found cocaine instead.
Oops!
...and this is different from his normal love life how?
:-D )))
Just another overweight, pretentious has-been or in my estimation never-was.
He may be a fruitcake but apparently the judge's punishment is doing it's job. I say leave the guy alone.
Apparently he's managed his cash somewhat decently since he still can afford to live in Manhatten.
There's nothing like busting rocks to clear one's head. OK, he's probably not up to that, but street sweeping is the next best thing.
No, that was a different gay George.
He petitioned to spend the time helping teenagers make a public service announcement. Among his other proposals to the court: holding a fashion and makeup workshop, serving as a DJ at an HIV/ AIDS benefit or doing telephone outreach.
In other words things that are laughably easy or that he wants to do.
Kinda takes the sting out of the punishment aspect George.
With all that's going on in the world, this makes news??
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.