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A mystery is brewing ahead of the publication of a new biography about Queen star Freddie Mercury as to how the book will substantiate its claims that the star secretly fathered a daughter.
A 48-year-old woman, named only as "B," says she is the child of the gay rock icon in a book called Love, Freddie, written by the biographer Lesley-Ann Jones. The book is due to be published on Friday, but is already making waves.
Details of the claims were first revealed in May, and the story went viral, attracting headlines around the world after the anonymous woman claimed she had enjoyed a "close and loving relationship" with her famous father for 15 years until his death.
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However, some doubt the woman's story, including those who were closest to the star, such as his best friend, Mary Austin.
Newsweek asked Jones how she and B felt about Austin's skepticism. "[Freddie's] daughter was surprised and devastated by her words," she said, pointing out that Austin had yet to read the book.
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Why It Matters
Freddy Mercury, who died aged 45 from AIDS in 1991, became a global superstar during his life, cementing his status as an icon during a Live Aid performance with Queen in 1985. His story reached a new audience in 2018 with the release of a movie about his life, which starred Rami Malek and was named after one of his most famous songs: "Bohemian Rhapsody".
Given the numerous books, documentaries, and films about Mercury, fans may have thought they knew everything there was to know about the star. But the new book claims to have access to 17 of his diaries and an interview with his secret love child.
Nevertheless, some have expressed skepticism over the claims.
What To Know
Mercury's "daughter" is said to be a mother who works in the medical field and lives in Europe.
She claims her parents were friends with Mercury and that she was conceived in 1976 when the singer slept with her mother while her father was away on business. She reportedly claims she was always aware who her father was and that her parents kept a room for the star at their home so he could stay.
She said Mercury called her daily whenever he went on tour and, according to an excerpt from the book that was serialized by the Daily Mail, she added: "Freddie Mercury was and is my father. We had a very close and loving relationship from the moment I was born and throughout the final 15 years of his life. He adored me and was devoted to me."
B claims they were so close that he gave her 17 volumes of his personal diaries, which she showed to Jones for her book.
It remains unclear exactly what claims are set to be made in the book. However, some reports have suggested that B intimated to the biographer that the singer's bandmates and his best friend, Mary Austin, had been aware of her existence.
But in an interview with The Times of London last month, Austin denied any knowledge of the woman, adding it would be "astonishing to me" if Mercury had been secretly slipping away to care for a daughter. Austin had once shared a romantic relationship with the star before he came out as gay and the pair split to become lifelong friends instead.
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What People Are Saying
Freddie Mercury's best friend Mary Austin, now 74, told The Times in August: "The truth is that I am simply not the guardian of such a secret," she said. "I've never known of any child, or of any diaries. If Freddie had indeed had a child without me knowing anything about it, that would be astonishing to me."
She also said he'd have had no reason to hide it, because "it would have brought tremendous joy to Freddie, and everybody who cared about him — including Freddie's parents [ …] But I do not remember Freddie ever speaking about creating a family." She didn't remember him ever writing in journals either, she said, despite living with him for years.
Austin said she had always tried to avoid the public eye, but felt compelled to speak out on this occasion "for Freddie, who is not here to speak for himself."
Actress Anita Dobson, who is Queen guitarist Brian May's wife, told the Daily Mirror: "It seems inconceivable he would have a child with someone we don't know about. If he does have one, where is she? Step forward. If she exists."
Biographer Lesley-Ann Jones has been publicizing the book online, telling readers on social media site X, "never mind the naysayers," adding: "At last, the true story."
And she told Newsweek on Monday: "It was interesting to hear Mary Austin's reaction to the content of 'Love, Freddie' before she had read the book. She still hasn't. His daughter was surprised and devastated by her words: as far as she was concerned, Mary knew about her, because Freddie wrote in his notebooks that she did. We can only speculate as to what really happened. Perhaps he had intended to tell Mary but never got round to it."
Mercury "had form in that regard" she said, such as initially keeping Austin in the dark about his sexuality and not telling his bandmates about his HIV diagnosis for some time.
Jones said she spoke to B on Monday about Austin's comments and emailed Newsweek to say that B had told her: "Mary's words hurt me deeply. BUT I don't want to turn this situation into a fight between his common-law wife and his daughter, the two people he loved most. Freddie would have hated that more than anything."
Independent publishing company Whitefox, which is publishing the book, told The Times that it takes "takes issues of accuracy, legality and ethics seriously" and that all its books are "subject to appropriate editorial and legal scrutiny."
Whitefox's website says it is "not a traditional publisher" but is instead "the industry leader in the thriving world of independent publishing." It tells prospective authors that "whatever the budget" its team can help "turn your idea into a beautiful, professionally published book that gets people talking."
What Happens Next
The book, Love, Freddie, is due to be released on September 5.
In the meantime, speculation continues to grow about its contents—and what proof will be offered as evidence of the allegations that B is Freddie Mercury's daughter.
Update 9/2/25 12:06 p.m. ET: This article was updated to include a statement from author Lesley-Ann Jones.
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