Do You Really Want To Hurt Me -

While listeners were drawn to the smooth melody, the lyrics addressed themes of homophobia and victimization . The music video, depicting Boy George "on trial" for being different, was a bold statement during the early MTV era.

Boy George was initially against releasing it as a single, fearing it was "too personal". He wrote the lyrics about his tumultuous secret relationship with Jon Moss and former partner Kirk Brandon. Recommended Reading Do You Really Want To Hurt Me

People often recall the shock and fascination that Boy George’s appearance generated when the song first aired. While listeners were drawn to the smooth melody,