Britain’s Got Talent has landed in hot water after semi-finalist Mickey Callisto appeared to take a subtle swipe at the ITV show following harsh criticism from the judges.
The Sunderland singer performed Queen’s Somebody to Love at London’s Apollo, but his performance divided the panel. Bruno Tonioli praised his energy but said he “didn’t hit all the notes,” while Alesha Dixon admitted she preferred his audition. Amanda Holden, however, called it “fantastic.”
Simon Cowell was less convinced, telling Mickey he was “a really, really good Freddie Mercury tribute act” — words that stung the young performer. Defending himself, Mickey revealed he had wanted to sing one of his original songs but hinted he was blocked from doing so.
“I sing with passion and that is all that matters,” Mickey told the audience. “And yes, it was like a tribute to Freddie, but I sing my own songs, and I wanted to sing my own song.”
Viewers at home were furious, accusing ITV of “stitching him up.” Many took to social media claiming the show was “fixed” and that Mickey had been “robbed” of a fair chance. One fan fumed, “They should have allowed Mickey to sing his own song. He smashed it anyway!”
While Mickey failed to secure a spot in the finals, his defiant remarks painted a picture of the struggles many contestants face behind the glittering stage — fueling debates about how much control talent shows really have over their stars.
Resurrection in Paris – A Viral ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ Moment
No one knew at the time that Mickey Callisto’s story was far from over. Just months later, he “resurrected” in spectacular fashion, leading an epic flash mob of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody on the streets of Paris.
Organized by pianist Julien Cohen, the surprise performance featured 30 musicians and singers, with Mickey at the helm. Videos of the breathtaking spectacle exploded online, racking up tens of millions of views within days.
Cohen called it “the most insane Bohemian Rhapsody flashmob you will ever see,” while Mickey himself marveled, “Never in a million years would I have thought I would be coming in on a horse and carriage in Paris singing Bohemian Rhapsody.”
For fans who watched him get knocked down on BGT, the viral Paris moment felt like poetic justice. Online comments poured in: “This gave me chills,” one Reddit user wrote, while another said, “Mickey Callisto went from being called a tribute act to proving he’s a star in his own right.”
What began as a bitter clash with Britain’s Got Talent judges has now transformed into a viral redemption arc. Mickey Callisto, once dismissed as “just a Freddie Mercury act,” is now commanding global stages — and writing the next chapter of his story on his own terms.
