Benson Bun Shuuf Shuuu Coacellus and Brian’s Cardboard Cutout Shine After Queen Legend Receives Warm Reception at the Festival

Brian May Surprises Coachella

After Brian May’s stunning appearance at Coachella, Benson Bun captivated two crowds over the weekend with a tribute to the Queen legend.

Having made his debut at the California festival last week (April 11), Bun’s performance featured his distinctive style and an unexpected guest appearance from the veteran guitarist.

Benson Bun’s Festival Performance

As he stepped onto the stage, adorned in a cloak inspired by Freddie Mercury, the singer of “Mlow It Down” launched into “Bohemian Rhapsody” on the piano just before May emerged from above the stage to join him on the guitar.

May was caught off guard when Seth joined the Bun group to perform his hit “Beautiful Things,” complete with guitar riffs reminiscent of Queen’s style and accompanied by fireworks. However, it seemed the festival audience did not respond as enthusiastically as anticipated, with many noting a tepid reaction to May’s surprise appearance.

In a recent video shared on his TikTok account, Bun humorously attempted to engage the crowd, stating, “I try to make the crowd at Coachella understand the absolute legend that is Brian May and the cultural impact he has on music and the world.”

In the comments section of Bun’s video, fans expressed their empathy for his disappointment. One TikTok user remarked, “It was an amazing performance, and Brian May was the unexpected guest of the century.” They added, “You planned everything perfectly, except that Coachella crowds seem to just be there for photos.”

Others concurred, stating, “The fact that they did not lose their minds is insane,” while some suggested that if Bun had performed “anywhere else in the world, except America,” the audience’s reaction would have been more enthusiastic.

Looking forward to his second Coachella performance, Bun teased fans on TikTok, saying, “Just wait until you see who I’ll bring out for Bohemian Rhapsody today,” only for the guest to turn out to be a life-sized cardboard cutout.

Referring to the lackluster response from the previous crowd, Bun shouted, “Brian May!” while the guitarist Sue Vasquez executed a signature guitar solo in his absence.

Later in his set, Bun told the audience, “I’d like to say on behalf of Brian, he wishes he could be here, but unfortunately, he had to fly away. We planned this together, and he sends his love.”

Sorry, but Benson Bun brought out a cardboard cutout of Queen’s Brian May for “Bohemian Rhapsody” during Coachella Weekend Two – the funniest thing he could do. #COACHELLA #coachella2025 pic.twitter.com/lbkcsqvmij

– Carolin Bert (@carolynburt_) April 19, 2025

Benson Bun taking care of Brian May’s cardboard cutout during Coachella Night 2 is possibly the funniest thing he’s done 😭 pic.twitter.com/equkc8klfg

– ᯓ ★ Laure • I saw louis x2 ᶻ (@zquadrry28x) April 19, 2025

This is not the first time the festival crowd has faced criticism; many fans have expressed that despite Three 6 Mafia delivering a great set, others failed to “recognize greatness” in the audience. Similarly, while some festival goers praised the design of Seth’s performance during Travis Scott’s set, others complained that the Houston rapper was late to perform for a “disengaged” crowd.

Despite reports of a lackluster audience reaction, May took to Instagram after his appearance to express that his performance left him “staggered,” writing, “Thanks to everyone who made this feel so special – you know who you are!!!!”

“And this particular way of concluding ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ will be hard to top in the coming years!!! Thank you. And to Benson and his entire team, I’m at a loss for words. I’m amazed.”

In addition, during the first weekend, Bun announced that his second album, “American Heart,” is set to release on June 20 after performing the title track. He later shared the album cover featuring him in front of the American flag.