He’s speaking out. Actor Rami Malek addressed the sexual assault allegations against Bohemian Rhapsody director Bryan Singer during a panel at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Friday, February 1. He seems to want the focus of discussions about the film to be on Freddie Mercury and Queen but appears willing to discuss the allegations when directly asked about them.

The Hollywood Reporter’s Scott Feinberg, who moderated the discussion, asked Rami, 37, about the allegations against Singer — which came to light again following an exposé published by The Atlantic for its March 2019 issue. Singer has been accused by four men of having sex with them while they were underage. Rami told the audience at the event, “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, it’s remarkable that this happens, 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.”

2019 SAG Awards Rami Malek
Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images for Turner

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 27: Rami Malek attends the 25th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. 480645 (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images for Turner)

Rami continued, “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. In my situation with Bryan, it was not pleasant, not at all. And that’s about what I can say about it at this point.” Following audience applause, he added, “For anyone who is seeking any solace in all of this, Bryan Singer was fired. Bryan Singer was fired, I don’t think that was something anyone saw coming but I think that had to happen and it did.”

The Bohemian Rhapsody actor is up for an Oscar for Lead Actor for his turn in the film. It’s definitely got to be awkward to be nominated for a film connected to a director with so much controversy surrounding him, but hopefully, Rami’s acting can stand on its own and be judged for the amazing performance that it was.

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