It’s been roughly a week since 11-year-old guitar prodigy Olly Pearson stole the spotlight during the massive Bohemian Rhapsody flash mob in Paris and the response has been nothing short of spectacular. The performance, featuring 30 musicians and singers led by pianist Julien Cohen and vocalist Mickey Callisto, has already racked up over 12 million likes on Instagram and surpassed 191 million views across social media platforms.
For Olly, who first rose to fame on Britain’s Got Talent, the Paris flash mob has been a whirlwind experience and one that has the Pearson family beaming with pride.
“Seeing him on stage in Paris, owning every note of Brian May’s solos, was beyond anything we imagined,” said his father, Simon Pearson. “At first, I was terrified leaving him to join the audience, but the moment he started playing, terror turned into pride. The way the crowd reacted, the energy in the streets — it was incredible. Olly’s talent truly speaks for itself.”
His mother, Sarah Pearson, echoed the sentiment: “Everyone has been so kind to him, stopping him for selfies and compliments. We can’t thank the public enough for the love they’ve shown. Watching him light up the stage in Paris reminded us why we’ve always supported his dream.”