Bohemian Rhapsody’s Rami Malek Says His Experience With Director Bryan Singer “Was Not Pleasant”

Rami Malek has spoken out about Bryan Singer, just days after new sexual assault allegations surfaced against the Bohemian Rhapsody director.

Malek, 37, addressed the allegations while speaking at a discussion at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Friday. The Bohemian Rhapsody actor admitted that while he didn’t want the allegations to overshadow the film, he understood how important it was for the victims to come forward and have their stories heard.

“I’ve sat here and talked about how everyone deserves a voice and anyone who wants to talk about what happened with Bryan deserves to have their voice heard,” Malek told the audience. “My situation with Bryan, it was not pleasant. Not at all.”

Singer, 53, was accused of sexual misconduct in the past, but new allegations were published in late January by The Atlantic. Four more men spoke out against the director in the lengthy report, claiming he seduced and had sex with them while they were underage — one as young as 13.

Victor Valdovinos, who was an extra in Singer’s 1997 film Apt Pupil, claims the director “grabbed my genitals and started masturbating it” while filming a locker room scene at his school. Valdovinos was just 13 at the time of the alleged incident and says Singer asked him to appear in the film after they first met in the school bathroom.

The other three men, all under pseudonyms, alleged Singer seduced them during parties at his Beverly Hills mansion in the late ’90s — two when they were 17 and one when he was 15.

The Atlantic report was published in the wake of Bohemian Rhapsody being nominated for multiple Oscars and crossing over $800 million at the worldwide box office.

In regards to the allegations in The Atlantic, Malek continued, “My heart goes out to anyone who has to live through anything like what I’ve heard and what is out there. It’s awful. I can appreciate so much what they’ve been through and how difficult this must be for them. In the light of the #MeToo era that this somehow seems to exist after that, it’s a horrible thing.”

Though the accused sexual predator was fired by Fox in Dec. 2017 with only two weeks left in filming, he is still expected to make at least $40 million from Rhapsody and retains directing credit.

Malek concluded with saying removing Singer from the film was the right move. “For anyone who is seeking any solace in all of this, Bryan Singer was fired,” the Oscar-nominated actor added during the panel, visibly emotional. “I don’t think that was something anyone saw coming but I think that had to happen and it did.”

Singer’s attorney, Andrew Brettler, stated the article “rehashes claims from bogus lawsuits.” The director vehemently denies ever having sex with, or a preference for, underage men. The lawyer also noted that Singer has never been arrested for or charged with any crime.