Perpetually troubled singer Boy George appeared on The Today Show this morning to discuss being banned from the United States.

While the State Department hasn't made its final decision on the singer's visa, which was denied due to his false imprisonment trial, Boy George remains "upbeat," he says.

Meredith Vieira, meanwhile, does her best to make him feel like shit - and steal his hat.

Watch it, after the jump…

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Who says foreign policy can't be fun?!

An intrepid reporter this week asked State Department Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey on the very pressing matter of Boy George's visa holdup.

Mr. George planned on coming to the States for a tour this summer, but the current investigation into his alleged kidnapping of a Norwegian hooker gave American officials pause.

And the world wants answers!

QUESTION: And what does the U.S. Government have against Boy George – (laughter) – You denied him a visa.

MR. CASEY: Sorry, I should have swallowed before you said that. (Laughter.) Let’s see if I spit the water over any place else. (Laughter.) I’ve seen the report that’s out there. Obviously, visa records are confidential. But I’d simply note that there often are difficulties for individuals who either are currently subject to criminal charges or otherwise may have criminal records. So I think you might want to look toward some of those reasons as why he might be having some difficulties here.

QUESTION: It’s tragic really.

MR. CASEY: Do you really want to hurt him? (Laughter.)

The State Department will reportedly decide George's fate this evening. The world as we know it will never be the same.

You can watch the live action video here.

Hey, you! Yes, you.

Do you like Boy George? Do you want to see him sing "The Hits Of Culture Club and Beyond" at Terminal 5 on August 14th?

Well, you're in luck, because we have two free tickets burning a hole in our pocket and know that some of you are deserving. How deserving, however, remains to be determined.

So, here's what we're proposing: you guys (or gals) dress up in your greatest Boy George-esque garb*, send us a picture, we post said picture and hold a little vote to see who gets to go. Sound like fun? You bet your sweet ass it does! So, send those pictures on over to your lovely editor with the subject: "I Heart Boy George" and we'll get the ball rolling.

Deadline: June 30th. Or, of course, you could simply buy tickets, but that's for squares.

*Of any era.

Boy George's hooker-napping antics have eclipsed his musical talents. Thus, we'd like to offer "The Crying Game," "The War Song" and "Victims" as aural reminders of the professional trainwreck's once-illustrious career.

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Boy George better work on his karma! The scandal prone singer will definitely stand trial for imprisoning a Norwegian whore, Auden Carlsen:

Boy George has been sent for trial accused of falsely imprisoning a male escort by chaining him to a wall. The pop star and DJ will next appear at London's Snaresbrook Crown Court on February 25, Thames Magistrates' Court ruled.

The 46-year-old - real name George O'Dowd - spoke during the minute-long hearing only to confirm his name and date of birth.

It is alleged that he falsely imprisoned a 28-year-old at his home in Ravey Street, Shoreditch, east London, on April 28.

The former Culture Club singer left court in a blacked-out silver estate car without comment. He was released on conditional bail.

We're assuming this "conditional bail" includes a prohibition on hiring more prostitutes and holding them against their will (allegedly).

Scandal prone Boy George better learn to read before he writes! What started as a simple autograph turned into a very expensive agreement:

The gay entertainer was on the decks [at a nightclub] at 3am amid hundreds of revelers, when a lurking solicitor sidled up to the DJ stand.

Amid the writhing bodies and pumping music the lawyer, disguised as a clubber, handed the pop star a piece of paper. Thinking it was an autograph-hunting fan, the DJ duly obliged with a quick signature - which will now cost him £36,000 [about $73,872] - the cash he owes after being sued by a club promoter.

That promoter, Kasia Saleh, filed a lawsuit against George after he ditched a pre-paid gig to deal with his coke-related woes.

George, who also faces charges for imprisoning a Norwegian whore, must either pay Saleh the money or declare bankruptcy. The singer didn't have any comment, but one witness describes him as "gobsmacked," which is exactly what it sounds like.

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Keeping up with his scandal-a-month rate, bent British musician Boy George has been charged with "false imprisonment" of his Norwegian escort Auden Carlsen, whom BG allegedly kidnapped earlier this year.

…Carlsen, 28, claims he was grabbed and chained to a wall by George and another man after the singer invited him back to his London flat to pose for photographs.

Scotland Yard said today that the 47-year-old singer, who was first arrested in April, had now been charged over an incident in his flat.

The singer, whose real name is George O'Dowd, was released on bail and ordered to attend Thames Magistrates Court next week.

Police said: "George O’Dowd, 47, a musician of Ravey Street, EC2, is charged with the false imprisonment of a 28-year-old in Ravey Street on April 28. He has been bailed to return before Thames Magistrates Court on November 22."

Poor Boy…

Boy George just got a lesson in karma.

The queer entertainer had been scheduled for a 2005 launch performance at Los Angeles' Club GAY USA. In exchange for his presence and talents, George received about 10,000. Unfortunately Georgie Boy pulled out ten days before the Halloween appearance. Why? He had to deal with a coke charge back in London.

The infuriated club promoter, Kasia Saleh sued. After years of legal wrangling, Saleh's finally getting some payback. A judge ordered Boy George to cough up over £31,000 - or about $63,000!

At least it wasn't everything he owns…

• Crazy comedy duo Joey and David drum up some laughs with this Gap-spoof. Also, QueerSighted's Kenneth Hill thinks that David's "hot". Pass it on.

• Hyatt Hotel ain't down with gay romance. A Houston branch of the hotel chain removed gay romance novelist Lauren Baumbach's very homo promotional materials. When she tried to reason with a customer service representative, he cut her off, "I’m not discussing this with you.” Must not be much of a reader.

• Boy George allegedly has a history of hiring whipping boys. From pop bitch: If George's New York neighbours are to be believed, [Auden] Carlsen is not the first escort he's picked up for this purpose. One tells us that George often brought young chaps back to his apartment for a session with whips and chains. The neighbour regularly resorted to banging on the walls and shouting, "Can you just finish him off quietly, for Christ's sake!"

• White House tells Press, "Only you can or cannot support Tony Snow."

• The World of Coca-Cola Museum will host an Andy Warhol exhibit. Because how else will the World of Coca-Cola Museum be taken seriously/get visitors/get press?

• Iron Man's movie suit revealed! (PS: Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man? Our nerd side says, "no", but our inner art fag says, "yes".)

• Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill to abolish the written consent law for HIV test. If passed, doctors will be able to test patient's blood without their approval and/or knowledge. While this may help curb infection rates, it also blurs the line between a person's rights and public health. Should doctors try to stem HIV, even if it means violating a person's right to privacy?

Boy oh boy, Boy George may be in a heap of trouble after Norwegian escort Auden Carlsen claimed the pop-singer and another man "kidnapped" him for a game of sexual exploration.

Carlsen met Boy George on Gaydar and went to the star's house to pose for some photos in exchange for £400. Carlsen claims that George and a friend later grabbed him and restrained him against a wall:

George said he was popping out for milk at 5am. I heard him come back and I walked into his bedroom wearing just my white underpants and a T-shirt. I was jumped on by George and another man.

George handcuffed me to a hook by the bed as they held me down.

The duo then produced a slew of sex toys and told Carlsen, "Now you’ll get what you deserve,” according to The Sun.

Carlsen broke free and fled the scene, "I was convinced I was going to die.” Oh, please. Boy George may be a lot of things, but killer ain't one of 'em…

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Boy oh boy, Boy George's again picking on Madonna, a woman he's previously described as "a vile, hideous, horrible human being with no redeeming qualities". This time the pop singer and known homosexual has taken on Madge's blessed religion, Kabbalah, saying:

I have investigated it and they are homophobic. I do think it's shocking that somebody who has made so much money out of gay people is now part of an organization which is anti-gay.

Madonna would have replied, but she's far too rich, famous and successful. Thus, we'll have to imagine her reply: "Fuck off, Boy George, you're just jealous, motherfucker. If you don't like me, blow me." She's then do the splits and disappear into a puff of diamond-laden smoke.