Queen guitarist Brian May hits out at airline for 'hacking' Bohemian Rhapsody to remove LGBT references

Brian May has hit out at Oman Air for editing out references to Freddie Mercury’s sexuality from the in-flight copy of Bohemian Rhapsody.

The Queen guitarist aired his grievances online after discovering the film had been “hacked away at” to remove any references to Mercury being gay or having same-sex relationships.

“No kissing, no ‘b******”, and Freddie wasn’t even allowed to quite get to the point of ‘confessing’ to Mary - though it was pretty clear what the scene was about,” May wrote. “By the end I really did feel that a lot of the film’s message was lost.”

He went on to point out that similar episodes of censorship have occurred elsewhere.

The musician said: “It wasn’t so long ago that The Rolling Stones were only allowed to perform on the USA’s Ed Sullivan Show if they changed 'Let’s Spend the Night Together' to 'Let’s Spend Some Time Together'!!

“Maybe we’re not so liberal and progressive as we think we are! Or maybe, for every nation, it takes time and tolerance and ... compromise? To get to a good place.”

He concluded by saying that “shouting” doesn’t always win or “get what you want” and later thanked fans for their comments.

“I’ve learned a thing or two from this. Take care out there. We SHALL overcome,” May finished.

Earlier this year, reports claimed that the award-winning film – which stars Rami Malek as Mercury – would have LGBTQ scenes cut ahead of its release in China.

Sources told the Hollywood Reporter that “at least one minute of cuts” will be made to the movie, getting rid of “portrayals of drug use and several intimate kisses between Malek’s Mercury and other male characters.”

Chinese broadcaster Mango TV also came under fire after they removed a mention of Mercury’s sexuality from a broadcast of Malek’s Oscars acceptance speech.

Standard Online has contacted representatives for Oman Air for comment.