Truth

ONCE voted the greatest rock song of all time, Bohemian Rhapsody entered the charts 50 years ago this month – and became a huge No1. 

The six-minute track — which has sold more than 6million ­copies worldwide — climbed to top spot in the charts and stayed there for nine weeks while Queen were on the road touring. 

That meant its first Top Of The Pops airing in November 1975 was accompanied by a rushed video which had taken the band just four hours to make on a budget of £4,000. 

In fact, singer Freddie Mercury was terrified of performing the fan favourite live, and almost caused a riot by once leaving it off their setlist. 

The song even divided opinion over whether it was about his sexuality. 

The incredible tale of one of the most famous singles in UK history is now told for the first time in an interview with Peter Freestone — one of Freddie’s closest friends.

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Peter was also his housemate and personal assistant of 12 years. 

‘Genius move’ 

Today, he gives an intimate insight into Freddie’s life and the song that will forever be linked to him.

He tells The Sun: “For most people, if you mention Queen, the first thing they say is Bohemian Rhapsody. 

“But the reality was that Bohemian Rhapsody was the one song that he hated playing on the piano.

“He was scared every single time. 

“He didn’t enjoy it live because there is a section when it is just the piano, which you couldn’t hide among banging drums and thrashing guitars.

“Even some years after its release, he dreaded playing the piano solo in it.  

“He was petrified of playing the wrong notes, and that everybody would laugh at him.” 

Peter, 70 — who lived with Freddie at his Garden Lodge home in ­Kensington, West London — went on: “Just as iconic as the song is the video, but the truth is that it was filmed in a rush at Elstree Studios just so it could be given to Top Of The Pops while the band were away on tour. 

“Freddie was very much a man of today and tomorrow.  

“He likened his music to tissues — you pick them up, use them and throw them away.

“But I know he’d be proud of Bohemian Rhapsody’s relevance, 50 years on.” 

The song topped the charts in November and December 1975 and had sold more than a million copies by the end of January the next year. 

It peaked for another five weeks after Freddie’s death in 1991 and became the UK’s third best- selling single ever, also topping Greatest Hits Radio’s Top 500 songs of the 70s, 80s and 90s in 2020.  

It was basically three songs in one going around in ­Freddie’s head, but he couldn’t finish anything off. In the end, they sort of pitched it all together. It was a genius move from the band.

Peter Freestone on how the iconic song came to be

Queen guitarist Sir Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor performed Bohemian Rhapsody with a full orchestra and chorus at the Last Night Of The Proms in September. 

Brian — who stumbled over his ­guitar solo at the end — once said: “I think Bohemian Rhapsody is something you can never get bored with.” 

But Peter reveals the mega-hit is actually a mash-up of tunes the band struggled to make work individually, so they were merged into a rock- opera epic.  

He says: “It was basically three songs in one going around in ­Freddie’s head, but he couldn’t finish anything off.

“In the end, they sort of pitched it all together.

“It was a genius move from the band.” 

The true meaning of the song has long remained a mystery.

In 2015, ­lyricist Sir Tim Rice suggested it was about Freddie’s battle with his sexuality.

He said: “It’s fairly obvious to me this was Freddie’s ‘coming out’ song. 

“I’ve spoken to Roger Taylor about it.

“There is a very clear message in it. 

“This is Freddie admitting that he is gay.

“In the line ‘Mama, just killed a man’, he’s killed the old Freddie — his former image.”  

‘Crowd went mad’ 

But Peter revealed he has his doubts that Freddie would have ­written a song being so frank about his sexuality amid fears over what his parents would think.

He said: “Being gay was illegal until the Sixties, so he was fighting against his background.

“His parents were very religious and I don’t think he would have thrown it in their face like that.  

“Bohemian Rhapsody was about love, though.

“All his songs are either about finding it or losing it.”

Peter says Queen’s performance of the song for Live Aid in 1985 was one of his favourite live memories of the band.

He also revealed that the only time they left it out of a live show — on a 1980s tour date in Canada — it left the crowd fuming. 

Peter says: “It was the start of the tour, and the only time in the 12 years I knew them that they left it out — and the crowd went mad.  

“When the encore finished, the crowd started chanting for it.

“But the show had finished.

“It was back in the setlist the next night.” 

Yet for many, it is the ground-breaking video — showing the band performing, featuring close-up shots of their faces and portraying them in silhouette — that made the song so memorable.

It was first aired on BBC One’s Top Of The Pops on November 20, 1975 — ten days after it was filmed.

Peter said: “It was pioneering for its time.

“It was a product of its time.

“It was ­influenced by Doctor Who, which at the time had used silhouettes ­moving like in the video. 

“It was put together very quickly.

“The band were on tour at the time and needed to record a video for Top Of The Pops as they couldn’t be there in person.” 

It was through a ballet performance to Bohemian Rhapsody that Peter, who was working in costume for the Royal Ballet at the time, became Freddie’s personal assistant.  

He would watch Countdown every day, religiously. He loved playing Scrabble, too

Peter on Freddie

The pair met when the Queen frontman was performing a charity gala in 1979.

Peter said: “I never had a contract because they could never create a job description.  

“My job was basically living ­Freddie’s life alongside him.

“I did normal, day-to-day things like answer the telephone, answer the door, go shopping, do some cooking, do cleaning, so that he could concentrate on creating the music.”  

Peter also got to know the off-stage Freddie through sharing his home.

He recalled: “He loved laughing.

“He always enjoyed himself.

“He would wake at 9am every morning, even if he’d got into bed at 2am.  

‘I’m white trash’ 

“He’d have a cup of tea and loved to go to the garden at look at the koi carp.

“The Sotheby’s and Christie’s catalogue and the Architectural Digest were always in the house. 

“He would watch Countdown every day, religiously.

“He loved playing Scrabble, too. 

But Peter revealed there were also fun nights out — including one when Freddie flung model Samantha Fox around on stage.

Peter said: “I will never forget it, and I don’t think she will either. 

“It was at a party after the ­Wembley shows in 1986, on a roof garden in Kensington High Street.

“Freddie grabbed Samantha and was swinging her around.  

“And they were singing, and howling with laughter.

“I was thinking, ‘Oh God, don’t drop her’.” 

On another occasion, Peter had to pluck Freddie out of a bin following a 1980s booze session in a US bar with pop act The Village People after his drink was spiked. 

He said: “They were having a great time in this big American bar.

“Freddie was enjoying himself.  

“I went to the toilet then one of our friends came to get me and said, ‘You better come quick’.  

“I headed back in and I could hear raucous laughter.

“There was Freddie in white singlet, jeans and trainers, jumping up and down in this big, netted bin, full of beer cans and plastic cups . . . jumping up and down, and shouting, ‘I’m white trash. I’m white trash’.  

“We later found out his drink had been spiked, but he was okay.” 

Peter told how he misses Freddie “every day” and feels proud whenever he talks to others about him.  

He now does tours and shares memories of the singer’s life. 

Peter lives in the Czech Republic and runs an Aids foundation there.

He has talked to more than 70,000 people across the country about the illness, which Freddie had before his death from pneumonia in 1991. 

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Peter said: I feel proud that one of his great pieces of work, ­Bohemian Rhapsody, carries his legacy half a century on.” 

• To find out about Peter’s work, see peterfreestone.com. 

DESPITE claims Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater had called it quits after two years, I can confirm they are very much still together.

But the speculation surrounding their relationship is taking its toll.

Insiders have told me the pair were aware of the talk around their romance and spent the night after the Wicked: For Good premiere in London holed up in her suite at the Mandarin Oriental hotel.

A source said: “Ariana and Ethan are still a couple but they’ve seen the chatter online and it’s not been easy.

“They were both at the ­Leicester Square premiere and the ­after-party at Brasserie Zedel but made sure they weren’t seen together.

“Obviously it fuels the ­speculation around them but they don’t want their relationship to play out in public.

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“When Ariana left the after-party, she went back to her hotel suite.

“Not long after, Ethan was taken there and went up to see Ariana to spend time with her.

“They are aware of what is being said and it’s not easy for them but they’re doing the best they can to snatch some quiet moments when no one is watching.”

Yesterday they rejoined the rest of the cast, including Cynthia Erivo, to fly to Singapore for the next leg of the promo run ahead of the second movie’s release next Friday.

It has been a couple of months since speculation about their relationship went into overdrive, with fans questioning why Ethan didn’t join Ariana at the MTV VMAs in New York in September.

The pair, who met on the set of Wicked in 2022, have also not been ­photographed together since before the summer, leading to an explosion of rumours on social media.

My insider added: “Once this next round of promo is completed for Wicked: For Good, Ariana and Ethan will be spending some time together out of the public eye.

“They’ve always preferred to be low-key and are happier just chilling at home together.

“No one is saying the past few months have been totally rosy but their relationship is still very much on.”

Hopefully this will shut down the TikTok trolls for a while.

Jacob Elordi – the star of ­Saltburn and Frankenstein – will next year star in a Wuthering Heights remake opposite Margot Robbie.

But the Australian actor admits his own film tastes are much simpler.

He told French website brut.media: “I watch a lot of Scooby Doo.

“I love the Scooby Doo movie Spooky Island so much.

“It’s a great film – a great whodunnit.”

Bonehead teases Oasis tour return

Oasis guitarist Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs is back with the band and raring to go.

I’m thrilled he is returning to the reunion tour after he dropped out of the global jaunt to undergo cancer treatment.

He will be on stage in Buenos Aires this Saturday, having missed the legs in Asia and ­Australia.

He had to step away from the gigs last month for prostate cancer treatment.

Bonehead was diagnosed with the disease before the tour kicked off in July and was “responding well” to treatment.

He then took a planned break for the next phase of his care.

Teasing his return, he tweeted an image of a flight path from London to Rio de Janeiro with the caption, “Incoming”, which was then reposted on Oasis’s official website.

The band have pulled off the seemingly impossible by making it through the tour without a mammoth bust-up between Liam and Noel Gallagher.

With that success, I’m sure these final five shows in Argentina, Chile and Brazil won’t be the last we hear from them.

You too can now look like Shakira – well, get locks like her anyway – as she has launched her award-winning haircare brand Isima in the UK.

It has been made available for the first time in Selfridges stores in London, Birmingham and Manchester after winning a string of awards in the States.

Kelly blasts boss’s boob

Kelly Clarkson has revealed she was once told to get a boob job by her manager.

Speaking on stage during her Las Vegas residency, the US singer said: “I had some d**k manager one time tell me to get a boob job. I was like, ‘Why don’t you get a d**k job?’

“Like, what? I’m fine with my itty-bitty t*tties. Get out of here. Who says that s**t? People say that s**t.

“They say it all the time to people in the industry. They say the craziest s**t.”

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On how many stars in the music business have had cosmetic surgery, Kelly continued: “I’m like, ‘This is not normal. You’ve normalised crazy’ . . . everybody’s out here looking like they’re in The Capitol in The Hunger Games.

“[Just] do you. Don’t make me do you. I like my itty-bitty t*tties. They’ve served me well.”

SITTING in her ex-fiance’s car, Sydney Sweeney looked a far cry from her usual glamourous self as she screamed during a very heated row.

And now we can reveal that the secret meeting with Jonathan Davino sparked a huge row with her new boyfriend Scooter Braun, who was left feeling “furious” and “disrespected” – and the fallout could have grave consequences.

The 28-year-old Hollywood star had been enjoying dinner with friends and her ex in Santa Monica over the weekend when things appeared to turn sour.

She was later seen in Jonathan’s car and, according to reports from TMZ, she could be heard screaming and telling him: “I don’t believe you. Please leave, leave me alone.”

The unlikely scene raised eyebrows, even more so when just days later Sydney headed out for dinner again – this time with Scooter, putting on a united front after the pair held crisis talks.

“He’s made it clear that he wants her 100%, that she needs to compromise on some things, and that seeing her ex like that crossed a line.”

Scooter Braun insider

An insider close to the couple told us how Scooter, 44, made it clear to the actress that she had ‘crossed a line’.

They explained: “Scooter got really mad. He doesn’t like that kind of behaviour at all, especially knowing the history between her and Jonathan.

“He knows they had a serious relationship, were together for a long time, and even got engaged. So, seeing her with him again — and getting caught on camera getting into his car — really set him off.”

Scooter’s upset is said to stem from just how much he loves the Euphoria star, who we previously revealed he is planning to move in with.

The insider continued: “He’s not controlling, but he wants her to know that he truly cares about her and that his feelings are real.

“He’s deeply in love and serious about building a future together. Scooter’s a man with strong values and morals — and for him, it’s not acceptable for his partner to be seen with other men, especially exes.

“He thought what she did with Jonathan was disrespectful and not cool, and he didn’t want to stay silent about it.

“He was hurt and wanted her to know. What he wants is full transparency between them — and for her to be the same way, but also to act like someone who’s in a committed relationship, not single anymore.

“He’s made it clear that he wants her 100%, that she needs to compromise on some things, and that seeing her ex like that crossed a line.”

Scooter is said to be aware that, given their age difference, he could be considered “old fashioned”.

Our insider says he “does a lot” for the star, stating he’s “present, supportive, and fully committed”.

‘Public humiliation’

Sydney was due to marry businessman Jonathan, 41, earlier this year but called off their engagement after mounting speculation over the state of their relationship.

The pair met in 2018 and got engaged in February 2022.

At the time, the actress spoke at length about their wedding and future before things came to an end.

Our insider added: “It has to be a blow for Jonathan that she has moved on so publicly and seems really ready to settle down this time.

“He feels like he was a huge part of her career to start with, really building up her confidence but now she’s flying without him. It’s painful to see.”

At the time it was reported that they split so she could concentrate on her career.

“He thought what she did with Jonathan was disrespectful and not cool, and he didn’t want to stay silent about it.

Scooter Braun insider

She certainly did that – she’s currently promoting Christy – her new biopic about the female boxing trailblazer Christy Martin – and there’s already been some Oscar buzz round her role.

It hasn’t just been work and no play though… over the summer she was first linked to Scooter – the billionaire businessman and record executive who became public enemy number one for Swifties worldwide in 2019 after he bought pop megastar Taylor Swift’s master recordings.

They started dating back in August after being seen spending time together at Jeff Bezos’s wedding in Italy two months before.

In August they were seen together in public for the first time on a date after having dinner at Jon & Vinny’s restaurant in Los Angeles.

The romance has proved to be more than just a summer fling, and Scooter seems to have well and truly fallen for her charms, even after the public humiliation of her arguing with her ex.

Get the look: Expert tips to swoon like Sweeney

Looking to create that doe-eyed look at home? Here, pro make-up artist Sarah-Jane Froom shares her exclusive top tips on how to achieve Sydney’s signature eyes…

TOP TIPS

• Start with a good primer: This ensures the eye shadow stays in place all day and gives a smooth base for blending.
• Define the crease: Use warm, neutral shades such as soft browns or terracotta to add depth to the crease. This helps enhance the natural shape of the eye without it feeling too heavy.
• Smoky eyes: Sydney often favours a smoky eye, typically with dark eyeliner along the lash line. I recommend blending a dark brown or black shadow into the liner to soften it and create that sultry, lived-in look.
• Lashes are essential: To get Sydney’s eye-popping lashes, I always recommend a volumising mascara. For a more dramatic effect, you can add some natural-looking false lashes that provide length and lift, but without being too over-the-top.
• Highlight the inner corners: This little trick instantly brightens the eyes, making them look more awake and larger – perfect for achieving Sydney’s signature bright-eyed gaze.

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OVER one million people watched as Brittany Miller made the perfect roast potato over the weekend – for her perfect twins in her perfect home with her perfect smile.

But behind the 29-year-old influencer’s flawless façade lies a sinister web of lies which saw her fake cancer and con her followers. Now, for the first time we reveal the truth behind her shock scam – and why she’ll stop at nothing to achieve fame.

In 2017, Brittany was an unknown 21-year-old living in Oxfordshire, with dreams of becoming the next big social media influencer. Her small online community were then left shocked when she claimed to have been diagnosed with stage three gastric cancer. 

Her friends rallied around her – a crowdfunding page was set up to help support her financially and interest around her started growing.

But then just as fast as her cancer news started spreading – it then disappeared and wasn’t mentioned again. No trace of her extraordinary lie could be found online. 

It wasn’t until 2020 when Brittany collaborated with a breast cancer awareness charity that her former best friend decided to speak out – revealing the whole thing had been a scam. 

Brittany lied to us all – not just her friends but also her followers online

Former friend

The police have confirmed to The Sun that Brittany was indeed convicted of her crime – fraud by false representation.

In July 2020, she was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and was forced to pay compensation and costs to the Crown Prosecution Service. 

Her criminal record will no longer show up on basic checks, which has left her victims furious. 

Speaking anonymously, a former pal revealed that Brittany had in fact been the one to set up the JustGiving page and had begged her friends to circulate it for her.

They told us: “Brittany lied to us all – not just her friends but also her followers online. 

“Now people are following her and they have no idea what she is really like.

“Yes it happened years ago but lying about cancer is really wrong. Lots of her followers will have family members living with cancer but little do they know that every time they watch one of her videos, they are giving money to a fraud.”

MAKING CASH AND FALLING OUT

Indeed, Brittany has built herself a successful online career. Her videos are mostly her dishing up huge meals, making home comfort food or showing hauls from Temu or Shein.

It might not be groundbreaking stuff but she has 3.5 million people following her on TikTok.

Her boyfriend, Ash Griffiths, regularly features in her clips and in July last year she gave birth to identical twins, Elijah and Emiliano, who have also become a big part of her content. 

The couple recently moved into a plush new home in East Sussex, thanks to the proceeds from Brittany’s TikTok account.

Looking back, another friend recalled how Brittany would tell her she was in hospital, having treatment, including radiotherapy and would guilt trip her when she wasn’t available to hang out with her.

Things came to a head when the pal accused Brittany of stealing money from her grandma.

In messages seen by The Sun, someone appearing to be Brittany admits to taking the cash but blames it on the strong medication she was taking. The pair fell out shortly after. 

In the weeks and months after Brittany’s crime was revealed, there has been a lot of online speculation but she has never addressed what happened. 

The former pal told us: “Brittany has done what she can to erase her history and will delete any comments referencing it.

“It’s pretty scary to think she was happy to lie about cancer and makes you wonder just how far she will go to be super successful.

“This isn’t about getting revenge on her, it’s about people knowing the truth, which they deserve.”

PAST MISTAKES AND PRESENT ISSUES

The cancer scam wasn’t the only time Brittany has been caught telling lies.

In 2018, she was convicted of travelling on the railway without having paid the fare. She gave the officer of the railway company a fake name and address. She was fined £320. 

In recent months, Brittany’s parenting has also come under question and  she revealed how an anonymous hater had accused her of child abuse.

Ash, who is the father of their twins, was even quizzed on her being an alcoholic and a “druggy.”

I’m in the spotlight, I get millions of views every video, I get it, there’s nasty people out there

Brittany on her fame

Unlike in the past, Brittany decided to be very open about what had been going on and, in an emotional video, she acknowledged that someone reported her to social services, not only accusing her of child abuse, but holding her responsible for “lots of things”.

She confirmed that she “got questioned about everything” and was “really upset” when she spoke to them on the phone, so much so that she “kept having to pause” because she was crying so much.

No further action was taken but the whole incident left Brittany shaken up. 

She said at the time: “People are so desperate for my downfall and bringing me down, but bringing my children into it is ludicrous – why would you want to do that to them, innocent babies?

“Do what you want to me, whatever, but to them, innocent children who are clearly very happy and healthy babies, that’s crazy, you’re an actual weirdo, you’re an actual loser.”

Brittany added:  “Never in a million years did I think I’d have to go through something like this – obviously, I’m in the spotlight, I get millions of views every video, I get it, there’s nasty people out there, I understand that. 

“I just think, how cruel can you actually be? So, so cruel.”

It’s not just Brittany who has been left shaken up by it all – her former friends now fear they will be targeted by trolls accusing them of spreading lies to social services.

An insider said: “It feels like trouble follows Brittany. She might have this perfect life on social media but it’s not the truth. This drama with social services won’t be the last she’s involved in. But she’s built up an incredible following now – and they will support her, no matter what.”

Brittany has been contacted for comment.