Benson Boone pranks Coachella crowd with Brian May cardboard cutout after Queen legend got a lukewarm reaction at the festival

After bringing out Brian May to a underwhelming response at Coachella, Benson Boone pranked the weekend two crowd with a cutout of the Queen legend.

• READ MORE: ‘Queen days’: Brian May reflects on his rock ‘n’ roll journey

Making made 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 of 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: “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.

“Brian May!” Boone shouted 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 audience: “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 Read More