Bohemian Rhapsody wowed audiences (and the Academy) with its impeccable recreation of one of the greatest bands of all time. But how’d they pull it off?

In a behind-the-scenes featurette, cast members Rami Malek, Gwilym Lee, and Joe Mazzello talk about honing their musical skills for the movie, with a little help from actual Queen member Brian May. 

For Malek, who had never played piano before he clinched the role, preparations involved taking piano lessons throughout. Lee (who plays May) and Mazzello (who plays Deacon) had a leg up, in that both of them already knew how to play guitar — but, as Mazzello says, “Nothing on this level. [May] is a master.”

The end result is a group that, okay, doesn’t quite reach Queen levels of greatness, but does tiptoe close enough to pass for it onscreen, while Hollywood magic takes care of the rest. 

In the meantime, if you’d like to try and recapture that Queen spirit in your own home, try telling your Alexa to “play Ay-Oh live.” She just might throw that “Ay-Oh” back at you, like the crowd in Queen’s Live Aid performance. 

Bohemian Rhapsody is available on Digital HD now.

Bryan Singer, director of X-Men and former director of Bohemian Rhapsody before he was fired, has been accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy on the set of the 1998 movie Apt Pupil, per a lengthy article published in The Atlantic on Wednesday.

The report outlines new allegations against Singer by a total of four men, all of whom were teenagers at the time the alleged incidents took place. Singer’s lawyer, Andrew B. Brettler, has disputed details in the story and “noted that Singer has never been arrested for or charged with any crime, and that Singer categorically denies ever having sex with, or a preference for, underage men.”

SEE ALSO: So, uh, why was Bryan Singer’s name trending after the Kevin Spacey allegations?

The article outlines allegations said to have taken place in the late 1990s, when Singer was in his early thirties.

In 1997, on the set of Apt Pupil, Victor Valdovinos alleges that Singer groped his genitals after casting him as an extra in the movie. He was a 13-year-old seventh-grader at the time.

“They’re doing their stuff over there, and I was back here, in the towel, with no shirt and no clothes on, sitting on one of the locker benches,” said Valdonivos, describing an area of the set Singer (who directed the movie) asked him to wait in during filming. “Bryan’s like, ‘Just hang out here. It’s going to be all day. Don’t worry.’”

Later, Valdovinos alleges Singer returned and “grabbed my genitals and started masturbating it” and “rubbed his front part on me.” During the assault, Valdovinos alleges Singer told him: “You’re so good-looking… I really want to work with you… I have a nice Ferrari… I’m going to take care of you.”

Singer’s lawyer responded by saying there was no record of Valdovinos working as an extra on the movie. Valdovinos’ father, however, told The Atlantic he remembered dropping his son off, while other sources confirmed that Singer was driving a Ferrari at the time the alleged assault took place.

Singer has faced allegations of sexual misconduct in the past, including in an Apt Pupil lawsuit — later dismissed — that alleged minors were ordered to “strip for a scene that was shot in the showers of a school locker room.”

In October last year, Singer took to Instagram to respond to “a negative article” he said Esquire may be planning to publish about about him.

YouTube TV is expanding nationwide.

Starting today, YouTube will begin rolling out an expansion for its live TV streaming platform, YouTube TV. According to the company, the service will be available for more than 98 percent of U.S. households in time for the Super Bowl.

YouTube TV is currently available in the top 100 markets in the U.S., which covers 85 percent of U.S. households. This new rollout will expand YouTube TV into an additional 95 markets across the country. With more than 98 percent of households able to watch the Super Bowl on YouTube TV, the company says that coverage for the rest of the country will follow soon after.

YouTube’s cable television alternative boasts more than 60 channels, such as ABC, CBS, and NBC, as well as cable networks like AMC, FX, CNN, USA, and ESPN. YouTube TV also provides local news and sports in the markets it serves. 

The service currently costs $40 per month, after raising its prices for new subscribers from $35 last year. A single YouTube TV subscription includes six unique accounts as well as an unlimited cloud DVR service for each of them. Users can stream the service on their computers, smartphones, tablets, and televisions.

SEE ALSO: Damn and hell are fine on YouTube. Here’s what you can’t f**king say.

YouTube TV launched less than two years ago in April 2017, providing cordcutters with a contract-free live TV option. The service was originally available in just five major markets – New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Chicago. It expanded into its 100th location just this past August.

Last year’s Super Bowl saw record-breaking streaming numbers. An average of two million Super Bowl LII viewers watched the game online via NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports app, and other official streaming locations. Online streams showing the game, which saw the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the New England Patriots, peaked with an online audience of 3.1 million concurrent streams.

With more and more Americans cutting the cord and replacing cable TV with streaming services like YouTube TV, Netflix, DirecTV Now, and PlayStation Vue, the number of people catching the Super Bowl online is sure to break records again this year.

A top French tennis player’s response to a question about the hiring of female tennis coaches prompted an enormous cheer from the crowd at the Australian Open.

Lucas Pouille — who will play Novak Djokovic on Friday at his first grand slam semi-final — was asked a question by John McEnroe about his coach.  

SEE ALSO: Ada Hegerberg becomes first woman to win the Ballon D’Or, gets asked if she can twerk

McEnroe interviewed Pouille immediately after he defeated Milos Raonic in the quarter-final. He referred to Pouille’s decision to hire former tennis player Amelie Mauresmo, a former world number one. 

McEnroe said: “I’m getting the feeling that a lot of these guy players are going to be hiring female coaches now.” 

24-year-old Pouille replied saying: “They should. She has the right mindset, she knows everything about tennis. It’s not about being a woman or a man, you just have to know what you’re doing and she does.”

The crowd erupted into applause as Pouille said these words. Well said.

The anti-abortion March for Life and the Indigenous Peoples March both took place on January 18, but all anyone remembers from either is a confrontation between a white, male teen and a Native American elder — and the viral videos that resulted. 

Footage shows a group of predominately white, male teenagers donning “Make America Great Again” hats and seemingly mocking 64-year-old Nathan Phillips, a Native American protester, former director of the Native Youth Alliance and veteran. Details about the incident continue to emerge, but it’s clear that the encounter and the resulting videos were polarizing on social media, with many pointing to the smile on one of the young people’s face, an expression that many have characterized as disrespectful.

SEE ALSO: Teens in MAGA hats spark outrage at Indigenous Peoples March

Because we live in a country where conflict and abusive rhetoric are valued, people expect that another person is behaving in a purposely hurtful way, says David Elcott, a Taub professor of practice in public service and leadership at the Wagner School of Public Service at New York University. He explains that situations like these are going to happen more often because it’s what people expect.

Still, de-escalation is a skill that can be taught. So whether you’re attending a protest where you’re expecting counter protesters or you want to learn how to communicate effectively in a heightened conversation, here are some things you should consider.

1. Communicate

Talking to people on the other side of an issue or a protest can help stop physical violence from ensuing. Elcott emphasizes the importance of civic initiative, which entails asking questions, showing respect, and having a sense of inquiry instead of dismissal. 

But he concedes that this is difficult in today’s climate, pointing specifically to the way the president “provokes and creates hostility.” 

“We have to reinvent a civil culture and civic discourse, which has evaporated in the last period of time,” says Elcott. “Trump is certainly a problem, but he’s not the only problem.” 

That said, you can take the first step in the conversation by asking for clarification or about their mission. Try questions such as “Why are you here?” 

Elcott, who identifies as a Jewish person from New York, explains that when he visits an Evangelical church in the “deep South,” he quotes scripture to find “common humanity” and demonstrate that although he may not agree with their views, he knows they are human beings. In doing so, he hopes to encourage people to listen to each other rather than view individuals who disagree as “evil incarnate.”

2. Know your goals 

It’s important to focus on your goals, so that you are not deflected by other issues that may arise, says Elcott. “When it comes to organizing, when it comes to advocacy and activism, [keep a] very narrow focus of what you want to accomplish.” 

With that in mind, when speaking to people who may disagree with you, remember that it’s helpful to stick to a clear mission statement. Ernest Coverson, the field manager at Amnesty International USA, suggests speaking softly but directly to defuse a situation, focusing on why you’re there and where you stand on an issue. 

At demonstrations or public events, that may also mean making sure everyone on your team is aware of the team’s overall goals and response to different conflicts, according to Elcott. More specifically, if someone is passed a microphone, they need to know what to say.

3. Consider recording the encounter

Although recording a video of the encounter on your phone won’t necessarily guarantee your safety or help defuse the situation, it can make sure your side of the story gets told. 

If they see a phone people may think twice before they act or react because they know someone is recording, Coverson explains. On top of that, it can offer credibility to an activist, demonstrating that details aren’t being made up to enhance the story. 

Of course, this fluctuates when portions of a video are taken out of context. However, as seen with this most recent viral encounter, a longer video version helped paint a fuller picture of events — even if it emerged days later. 

4. Plan for the ‘what ifs’

Coverson recommends creating a contingency plan. Think about what counter-protesters might look like and why they might be there, and then find people — whether that’s members of your organization or law enforcement — who will watch the crowd and be ready to engage with counter-protesters if they try to disrupt what you have planned. 

“It’s better to have planned for it and not have to deal with it, then have to deal with it and never plan for it,” he says. 

Coverson also says it helps if you’ve received a permit to host an event, so you have a legally-reserved area and law enforcement can help remove counter-protesters or other individuals trying to escalate a situation.  

Elcott also recommends planning for the worst-case scenarios such as attacks from counter-protesters or even arrests. You should also know what your rights are if you get arrested, bring first aid supplies in case things get violent, and make sure you’ve written down emergency numbers.

If you can’t imagine the what ifs, then Elcott suggests that it’s probably not best to go out into the streets yet.

Ultimately, Coverson wants individuals to know they shouldn’t be scared. If anything, he wants activists to remember that American citizens have the right to protest. 

“It actually should bring you out more and looking [for] ways that you can get involved in this democracy,” he says.