A flash mob performance of Queen’s legendary “Bohemian Rhapsody” in Paris has captured the attention of the world, amassing over 500 million views across social media. But the viral success has sparked debate, with some questioning whether the performance was genuinely live or simply a “highly produced” spectacle.
Pianist and content creator Julien Cohen, who organized the event, has now broken his silence in response to the criticism. The flash mob, held at Place de la Contrescarpe in Paris’s 5th arrondissement, featured 30 musicians, including lead singer Mickey Callisto and 11-year-old guitar prodigy Olly Pearson, a standout from Britain’s Got Talent. Callisto described the performance as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, recalling, “Never in a million years would I have thought I would be coming in on a horse and carriage in Paris singing Bohemian Rhapsody.”
The stunt was designed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Queen’s 1975 classic. Cohen, who is known for spontaneous public performances, said, “Bohemian Rhapsody is one of the few pop songs almost everyone knows, and performing it live in this way brought real joy to the crowd.”
A behind-the-scenes video showed 20 opera singers positioned behind windows of surrounding buildings, performing in call-and-response harmonies across opposing facades. Cohen emphasized that the project took over a year to plan.
Cohen shared the video on Instagram on September 8, calling it “The most INSANE Bohemian Rhapsody flashmob you will ever see! With 30 musicians and singers in the streets of Paris.” Within days, the video received over 10.6 million likes and 135,000 comments, and a follow-up “Part 2” video quickly went viral as well.
Mixed Reactions and Questions About Authenticity
While many fans praised the performance as “a once-in-a-lifetime experience” and “exactly what the world needs – art and music in the streets for everyone,” skeptics have raised doubts.
Some questioned the authenticity of the audio, noting the backup vocals sounded overly processed and the crowd appeared staged. Others argued that the performance resembled a professionally produced video rather than a spontaneous flash mob.
Observers have asked provocative questions: Was this truly live, or a combination of studio recordings and on-street performances? Could the carefully coordinated audience reactions be considered authentic? How much post-production went into crafting the perfect harmonies, and does that diminish the spirit of a flash mob?
Critics’ comments reflect these concerns:
“The flash mob vid popped up, I immediately closed it. These flash mob performances were real 10–15 years ago. Now, they’re professionally directed.”
“It should be called: FLASH MOB + STUDIO TRICKERY = YOUTUBE POST.”
“Sadly, the longer such manipulation goes on, the more normalized it becomes. This is killing music.”
“I realized right away it was too perfect to be completely real, but it had a nice spirit.”
“Outside theater with doctored music from a studio… Question everything is my motto.”
Others noted technical details that made the video appear polished: slight pitch corrections on vocals, the piano being slightly sharp, and background harmonies that seemed mechanically perfect. Some even compared the effect to a carefully constructed visual illusion or musical simulation, rather than a purely live street performance.
Yet defenders argue that, staged or not, the flash mob captured the essence of Queen’s music and brought joy to viewers worldwide. Cohen emphasized the work and coordination involved: “We put so much effort into making this video. Your love and comments mean a lot to me.” The official Queen account also praised the performance: “We absolutely love this.”
From Parisian streets to online feeds around the globe, the “Bohemian Rhapsody” flash mob has sparked conversations, inspired awe, and challenged the boundaries between live performance and multimedia art—showcasing both the enduring power of Queen’s music and Julien Cohen’s ambitious creative vision.