Freddie MercuryS Daughter Criticizes “Bohemian Rhapsody” as “Far From Reality”
Kashmira Cooke, a woman who identifies as the secret daughter of Freddie Mercury born in 1976 to the wife of a close friend, has publicly criticized the 2018 film Bohemian Rhapsody, stating it presented a distorted portrayal of the iconic singer’s life. Cooke’s comments, recently resurfaced, offer a rare personal perspective on the film’s accuracy adn the lasting impact of Mercury’s hidden family life.
For decades, Mercury’s personal life remained largely private. While the world celebrated his musical genius, a small circle knew of Cooke and her mother, Mary Austin’s close friend. Cooke’s critique underscores the complexities of representing a life shrouded in secrecy and the pain felt by those closest to Mercury when his story is reinterpreted for mass consumption. Her statements highlight the enduring emotional weight of Mercury’s legacy for those who knew him intimately, and raise questions about the balance between cinematic license and factual representation in biographical films.
Cooke explained her decades-long silence stemmed from a desire to protect her father’s memory and allow her family to grieve privately.”For 30 years, while the rest of the world reinterpreted Mercury’s life, his music and everything he had been, I needed to have my father just for me and my family,” she stated. “How could I speak before?”
The film Bohemian Rhapsody, directed by Bryan Singer, chronicles Queen’s journey from their formation in 1970 to their celebrated performance at Live Aid in 1985. It received four Academy Awards at the 91st Academy Awards, including Best Leading Actor, Best Film Editing, and Best Sound Editing, becoming the most awarded film of that edition.Cooke’s assessment, however, is blunt: “Far from reality.”