Boy George Admits to 'Recycling' Kylie Minogue's Tension Album Cover for His New Single After Backlash

"I'm recycling everything. It's all the rage," said the Culture Club singer after fans pointed out the two artworks' uncanny resemblance

Boy George (L) and Kylie Minogue attend an after party for the opening of Robert Mapplethorpe: Night Work hosted by Scissor Sisters
Boy George and Kylie Minogue. Photo:

Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

Boy George's new "Religion" single artwork looks eerily similar to the cover of Kylie Minogue's latest album Tension — and the Culture Club singer is well-aware.

The 62-year-old "Karma Chameleon" singer released "Religion" on Friday, and fans quickly pointed out the uncanny resemblance to Minogue's Tension cover, as both feature the stars' faces tinted green with a red and yellow background as well as the exact same fonts.

After a fan asked Boy George why he paid "tribute" to the "Can't Get You Out of My Head" icon, 55, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), he admitted to copying her album cover.

"I'm recycling everything. It's all the rage," he replied on Friday. "Even fashion is catching on?"

Kylie Minogue Opens Up About New Album 'Tension' and Having a Career Resurgence at 55
Kylie Minogue 'Tension' Album Cover.

Edward Cooke

Another social media user shared a screenshot of the two covers next to one another that referred to Boy George as "scum," to which he responded, "Or utter genius!"

"Kylie is not Tesla," wrote the British musician in a follow-up post. "I am Tesla."

On Saturday, Boy George clapped back at another fan who called him "pathetic" for remaking Minogue's album cover for his own song, writing, "A word I would use to describe your tweet!"

Boy George and Kylie Minogue at the The Pigalle Club in London
Boy George and Kylie Minogue.

Simon James/WireImage

He seemed to offer a slightly more in-depth explanation for the move in another post on Wednesday. "I'm fascinated by how everything is connected, ideas are just echoes of space junk," he began.

"Every time you create a sentence or a piece of art you are recycling," continued Boy George. "I make my point in an abstract way but there is always creative method in my madness. #Religion."

Reps for Minogue did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 04: Kylie Minogue attends the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California
Kylie Minogue in Los Angeles on Feb. 4, 2024.

 Kevin Mazur/Getty

The two musicians seem to be friendly, as they've been spotted hanging out on several public occasions in the past.

In a recent interview on The Jennifer Hudson Show, Minogue revealed the first act she ever saw live in concert was Boy George and Culture Club in Melbourne, Australia.

"I sadly don't have a photo — maybe thankfully I don't have a photo of it. I went like Boy George. I had all the braids in my hair and the ribbons," she said. "I was probably 15, 16. It was baby Kylie."

 Kylie Minogue attends the 2024 BMG Pre-Grammy Party
Kylie Minogue in Los Angeles on Jan. 30, 2024.

Lester Cohen/Getty Images

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Earlier this month, the Australian pop superstar won her second-ever Grammy Award in the inaugural best pop dance recording category for her recent smash hit "Padam Padam."

“[Winning this new category] is just the cherry on top of the cake, because it’s what I’ve been doing for such a long time,” Minogue told Harper's Bazaar following the win. “I think I inhabit this category, and to take the inaugural Grammy for best pop dance recording is poetic, in my opinion, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.”

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