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After bringing out Brian May to an underwhelming response at Coachella, Benson Boone pranked the weekend two crowd with a cutout of the Queen legend.
Making his debut at the California festival last week (April 11), Boone’s performance featured his signature backflips and a surprise appearance from the veteran guitarist.
Taking to the stage decked out in a Freddie Mercury-esque cape, the ‘Slow It Down’ singer launched into ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ on piano before May emerged from the top of the stage to join him on guitar.
May stuck around as the set rounded off, standing alongside Boone’s band to play his hit ‘Beautiful Things, complete with Queen-style guitar riffs and fireworks. However, it seemed fans at the festival didn’t respond as expected, with many reporting a lukewarm reaction to May’s surprise addition.
In a recent video shared to his TikTok account, Boone sang with a banana and did mock attempts to stir a crowd, joking: “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.”
In the comments under Boone’s video, fans sympathised with his frustration. “It was an AMAZING performance and Brian May was THE surprise guest of the century,” assured one TikTok user. “You perfectly planned out everything except for the fact Coachella crowds are boring. They’re there for the pics.”
Others agreed, writing: “The fact that they didn’t lose their minds is insane,” while others speculated that if Boone had gone to “every other place in the world other than America”, the reaction would be more pronounced.
Ahead of his second performance at Coachella, Boone took to TikTok once again to tease fans, saying, “Just wait till you see who I bring up for Bohemian Rhapsody today,” only for the guest to be May in life-size cardboard cutout form.
Seemingly addressing the previous crowd’s less than enthusiastic response, Boone shouted “Brian May!” at the audience, pointing towards the cutout while guitarist Sus Vasquez delivered the signature guitar solo in his absence.
Later in the set, the singer told the crowd: “I would like to let you all know, on Brian’s behalf, he would’ve loved to have been here, but he unfortunately had to fly out so, we came up with that idea and he sends his love.”
I’m sorry but Benson Boone bringing a cardboard cutout of Queen guitarist Brian May for Bohemian Rhapsody during Coachella weekend two is the funniest thing he could’ve done. #coachella #coachella2025 pic.twitter.com/lBkcsQvMIJ
— Carolyn Burt (@CarolynBurt_) April 19, 2025
benson boone caring the cardboard cutout of brian may at coachella night 2, this might the funniest thing he did
pic.twitter.com/EQUKC8KlFg
— ᯓ★ laure • saw louis x2 𓊍ᶻ (@zquadrry28x) April 19, 2025
It’s not the first time the festival crowd has drawn criticism over the weekend, with fans saying that while Three 6 Mafia “killed” their special-guest laden set, those in the audience did not “recognize the greatness”. Likewise, while some festival-goers were impressed by the set design at Travis Scott‘s set, others complained about the Houston rapper being late to perform for a “dead” crowd.
Despite reports of a disappointing reaction, May took to Instagram after his appearance at weekend one to say being a part of it left him “reeling”, writing: “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.”
Elsewhere in first weekend, Boone announced his sophomore album, ‘American Heart’ would be out on June 20 after playing the title track. He later went on to share the cover artwork, which sees him stood in front of an American flag.
The post Benson Boone pranks Coachella crowd with Brian May cardboard cutout after Queen legend got a lukewarm reaction at the festival appeared first on NME.