13 March 2023 , 17:51
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Boy George has been left devastated after the death of his mother Dinah O'Dowd at the age of 84.
The Culture Club singer's representatives confirmed the news, and said the I'm A Celebrity star is 'devastated'.
They added that Dinah was surrounded by her family, including Boy George, at her passing and asked for privacy.
Boy George has four brothers and one sister, with sister Siobhan greeting him on the bridge after his I'm A Celeb stint on the most recent series.
His father Jeremiah died in 2003 but George has spoken in the past about how his father beat his mother and didn't treat her well.
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Boy George and his mum in 1985 (Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Dinah in 2006 (REX/Shutterstock)DJ Fat Tony, a friend of the singer, paid tribute to the mum on Instagram, sharing a black and white photo of her and writing: "God bless you you amazing woman Dinah ….my heart goes out to @boygeorgeofficial and the entire O Dowd family what an incredible beautiful strong woman we will miss you. x"
In November, Dinah spoke of her love for her son and said she was "not surprised" he almost quit I'm A Celebrity in her honour.
After MP Matt Hancock's controversial arrival in the camp, George explained his mum almost died during the coronavirus pandemic when she was in hospital in Greenwich, London.
Boy George and his mum at his 50th birthday party (Getty Images)Hancock was the failing health secretary forced to resign and highly criticised for his work in the Covid crisis.
Dinah told the Mirror: "George and I are very close and I'm so very proud of him.
"He is always there for me, so his reaction wasn't a surprise, and I am waiting to hug him when he gets home."
The touching response came after Boy George appeared to have decided to stay in camp having been talked round by Coronation Street actor Sue Cleaver.
Speaking in the Bush Telegraph he said: "I don't really know what to do with my feelings. You know, today was obviously quite emotional for me.
Boy George spoke about his mum during his time on I'm A Celebrity"I don't know what it's going to be like, I don't know whether I....I actually don't really know if I want to be here."
In the singer's book Take It Like A Man he says she was a "cartoon housewife" who "kept going day in, day out" working to feed and clothe her kids.
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In 2017, he detailed how he once kept his mother alive following an overdose.
Talking on Piers Morgan's Life Stories, he said: "She took pills. I remember sort of keeping her awake and not really understanding what had happened."
Boy George has been left devastated by his mum's death (ITV)Referencing the problems between his mother and father, George had said: "I used to tell my mum to leave my dad when I was like nine.
"I loved my father, don't get me wrong, I really loved him, but he wasn't a good dad and he wasn't a good husband."