Bespoke Freddie Mercury emoji launched to support  #FFADAYO campaign

Ahead of Freddie Mercury’s 70th Birthday on September 5th, Queen fans around the globe have been celebrating the work Queen’s charity the Mercury Phoenix Trust does in raising funds to fight AIDS worldwide by recreating Freddie’s famous Day-O sing-alongs with the hashtag #FFADAYO.

Celebrities are joining in the celebrations including singer-songwriter James Bay, comedians Matt Lucas, Bill Bailey and Ade Edmondson, plus actor/writer/director Rhys Thomas OBE and 6 Music’s Shaun Keaveny and Matt Everitt.

Twitter have launched a bespoke Freddie Mercury emoji to support this initiative. Any Tweet including the hashtag - #FFADAYO - will trigger an emoji of his iconic pose.

Georgina Parnell, Head of Music and Entertainment, Twitter UK:

Freddie Mercury, the ultimate front man with the most flamboyant persona is loved by music fans on Twitter around the world. We loved partnering with the Mercury Phoenix Trust on Freddie For A Day-O. Twitter is the perfect place for everyone to share their #FFADAYO videos, and what better way to bring these Tweets to life than a limited edition Freddie emoji.

Freddie’s 70th birthday will be marked on Sunday September 4th with a major celebration in Montreux, the Swiss town he so loved. The event is in aid of the Mercury Phoenix Trust, and will see fans and friends gather at Montreux Casino to remember Freddie and raise a toast to him at midnight. Official tribute band, the Queen Extravaganza will fly into Montreux especially to perform for the evening marking their first performance in Freddie’s Swiss home town.

Freddie Mercury - Messenger of the Gods: The Singles will be released on the 2nd September, 2016 by Mercury Records/Universal/Hollywood Records. The box set brings together all 13 of Freddie’s solo singles on individually coloured vinyl.

For more information on the incredible work carried out by the Mercury Phoenix Trust head to http://www.mercuryphoenixtrust.com/