The woman who publicly claimed to be the secret daughter of legendary Queen frontman Freddie Mercury has died at the age of 48 after a long illness.
A Contested Claim and a Private Battle
Known initially only as "B", the woman's identity was revealed as Bibi following her death. Her story was the subject of the 2025 book Love, Freddie, authored by journalist Lesley-Ann Jones. In it, Bibi alleged she was conceived during a brief affair Mercury had with a friend's wife in 1974.
Her husband, Thomas, confirmed her passing to the Daily Mail, stating she died "peacefully after a long battle with chordoma, a rare spinal cancer". She leaves behind two sons, aged nine and seven. "B is now with her beloved and loving father in the world of thoughts," Thomas said, adding that her ashes were scattered over the Alps.
Jones, who became a close friend, described Bibi as having a "selfless aim" to challenge narratives about Mercury's life. The author claimed Mercury referred to Bibi as his "trésor" (French for treasure) and his "little froggie", and suggested the Queen songs "Bijou" and "Don't Try So Hard" were written about her.
Scepticism from Mercury's Inner Circle
When the claims first emerged, they were met with significant doubt and surprise from those closest to the singer. Mary Austin, Mercury's lifelong confidante and the main beneficiary of his estate, told The Sunday Times she had no knowledge of a child.
"Freddie had a glorious openness, and I cannot imagine he would have wanted to, or been able to, keep such a joyful event a secret, either from me or other people closest to him," Austin stated. She emphasised she was "not the guardian of such a secret" and had never known of any diaries Bibi claimed Mercury kept documenting their relationship.
Anita Dobson, wife of Queen guitarist Brian May, also expressed disbelief. Recalling her reaction to the news, she told The Mirror: "I said to Brian, 'Do you know about this?' And he said: 'Do you believe this?'" Dobson suggested it might be "fake news", challenging the claimant to "step forward".
An Unresolved Legacy
Bibi reportedly told the Mail she was "devastated" by Austin's dismissal of her story. She argued that the truth of Mercury's life had been "distorted, twisted and rewritten" for decades.
The book Love, Freddie asserted that only Mercury's innermost circle, including his bandmates and Austin, knew of the alleged child's existence for nearly 50 years. This claim is directly contradicted by the statements from Austin and Dobson, leaving the story in a state of unresolved controversy.
The passing of Bibi closes a chapter on one of the more persistent and contested mysteries surrounding the private life of the rock icon, whose own life was cut short by AIDS in 1991. The claims, while fervently believed by some, remain unverified and firmly rejected by Freddie Mercury's most intimate friends.
