Rami Malek is basking in the sun. He’s aware his Oscar nomination will stand as one of the great moments in his life and it’s for this reason he’s “eternally grateful”. But for every success, the Bohemian Rhapsody is plagued by the controversies surrounding its director Bryan Singer who was fired and replaced by Dexter Fletcher at the last minute amid allegation of sexual assault made against him. It’s a question Malek has had to field in almost every interview.

“As far as I knew, I was considered before Bryan was even attached,” Malek told the LA Times this morning. “So I had my head down preparing for this for about a year ahead of time, and I never really looked up. I didn’t know much about Bryan. I think that the allegations and things were, believe it or not, honestly something I was not aware of, and that is what it is. Who knows what happens with that … but I think somehow we found a way to persevere through everything that was thrown our way.”

“I think they can understand that Bryan Singer was fired from the film,” he continued. “And that can be something that they can look at from a perspective of understanding why they can appreciate the film. And as far as I’m concerned, I never want to take away from Freddie’s story. I think that puts a button on it in a number of ways.”

While Malek thanked Freddie in his Golden Globes awards acceptance speech (“This one’s for you, Gorgeous”), surely he’ll thank his new girlfriend in real life Lucy Boynton who play’s Freddie’s girlfriend Mary in the film.

The Academy Awards will air on Monday February 25 at 12 noon in Australia.