The Culture Club frontman had planned a U.S. tour for this summer, including a free concert at the New York City Department of Sanitation's Family Day in August. He worked for the department in 2006 while performing court-ordered community service in a drug case.
His managers said in a statement Monday that the visa denial was not because of his past brush with the law in the U.S. but was because he is awaiting trial in London. The singer of such hits as "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" and "Karma Chameleon" has pleaded not guilty to imprisoning a man at his London home.
The U.S. Department of State says visa records are confidential so it can't comment.