Benson Boone didn’t let a flat crowd response ruin his Coachella moment—he doubled down with a hilarious twist. The singer cheekily trolled fans at the music festival on Saturday, April 19, after the crowd’s underwhelming reaction to Queen legend Brian May’s surprise appearance during Boone’s first-weekend performance.
During his Coachella debut on Friday, April 11, Boone stunned the audience by bringing out 77-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Brian May to shred guitar during a powerful cover of Queen’s iconic “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Channeling the late Freddie Mercury with a theatrical flair, Boone treated the performance as a career-defining moment. For May, who had recently recovered from a “minor stroke” just seven months earlier, it marked a remarkable return to the spotlight.
Despite the weight of the collaboration, the crowd response wasn’t what Boone had hoped for—and he didn’t hide his disappointment. The following week, Boone turned to TikTok to express his feelings and, with a mix of sarcasm and creativity, gave the crowd a second chance to show some love.
Ahead of his second Coachella performance, Boone teased fans online by promising another “surprise guest” for his encore rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” But when the moment came, fans were greeted not by May in the flesh—but by a life-sized cardboard cutout of the iconic guitarist.
Decked out in a Freddie Mercury-inspired cape, Boone hyped up the moment, sang the first verse of the Queen classic, and then dramatically revealed the cutout version of May, guitar and all. Throughout the performance, Boone playfully paraded the cutout around the stage, even serenading it while it repeatedly toppled over due to strong wind gusts.
The singer first hinted at his frustration on April 13, posting a lighthearted TikTok in which he lip-synced “Bohemian Rhapsody” into a banana while appearing visibly exasperated. Over the clip, he wrote, “Me trying to get the crowd at Coachella to understand what an absolute legend Brian May is—and the cultural impact he has on music and THE WORLD.”
Despite missing Boone’s second-weekend performance due to a NASA mission in Colorado, May clearly felt the love. Boone posted an Instagram Story featuring himself with the cardboard May, joking, “@brianmayforreal looking extra spicy today.”
May, for his part, expressed admiration for Boone in a heartfelt Instagram post, sharing a joyful selfie of the duo after their Coachella set. “Do we look happy?!!! Gonna treasure this moment on the plane with @bensonboone—a truly golden 22-year-old prodigy. I’m proud and happy to say we are now officially pals. Bri,” he wrote.
In a separate post, May continued to heap praise on Boone, giving a nod to his dramatic on-stage antics: “I’m still reeling from last night at Coachella. Thanks to all of you folks who made it feel so special—you know who you are!!!! And this particular way of concluding ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ will be hard to beat in the years to come!!! Thanks. And for Benson and his entire team, I have no words. I’m awestruck.”
Boone may not have received the reception he was hoping for during his first performance, but his sharp humor and deep respect for rock history made sure Brian May’s Coachella cameo won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
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