Mickey Callisto, the lead singer in the viral Paris flash mob of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” has broken his silence following widespread praise, with fans hailing him as a reborn Freddie Mercury or the “clone” of the late music legend.
Callisto, who first captured public attention with his show-stopping performance of Queen’s Who Wants to Live Forever? on Britain’s Got Talent, left viewers and judges alike stunned.
Alesha Dixon marveled, “Wow. I was like, is this Freddie or is this Mickey? But whatever it was, it was sensational. Your voice is absolutely stunning.” Bruno Tonioli added that Callisto had Mercury’s “mannerisms down to a T,” cementing his reputation as a performer capable of channeling the Queen frontman.
The Paris flash mob, orchestrated by pianist Julien Cohen, featured 30 musicians performing the 1975 classic across a bustling city block.
Callisto, arriving in a horseless carriage, delivered the song’s iconic opening lines, joined by an ensemble of singers, a young guitar prodigy Olly Pearson, and a full opera choir. The elaborate spectacle quickly went viral, garnering millions of views within days.
Fans took to social media to share their awe. One wrote, “Chills. I’m a huge Queen fan, and this amazing singer is performing a great version of a great song.” Another noted, “Wow! Mickey is sensational! What a voice and great stage presence too. Are there no gold buzzers left? He deserves one. He could be in a musical or movie about Freddy.” Others simply expressed amazement: “Glorious!” and “I’ve watched this four times already today. It really is joyous and a little reminder of how social media can still bring the sunshine.”
In a heartfelt message shared after the performance, Callisto reflected on the experience:
“So, now that I’ve had time to process just how crazy these past couple of days have been, I just want to say to everyone once again, thank you so much. To see the comments, to see the messages from everyone around the world—you don’t know how much it means to me, and it’s really taken me back. If I could thank each and every one of you in person, I genuinely would. And to Julien, thank you so much for having me on the project with the Flash Mob. You’ve created a moment that I’ll never ever forget, and hopefully we’ve done that for everyone too. It’s also the 50th anniversary of Bohemian Rhapsody, and for me, the song is just as present as ever. Thank you to Queen for this amazing song, and the biggest thanks goes to Freddie Mercury for creating something that resonates with the whole world. I just wish he could see all the love he’s getting. Now it’s my job to give the same feeling that Freddie gave you.”
The performance has reignited global interest in Queen, reaffirming the timeless power of “Bohemian Rhapsody” while spotlighting Callisto as one of the most compelling contemporary interpreters of Mercury’s legacy.