New Documentary Revisits Beatles Fans' Shocking Backlash Toward Yoko Ono: 'Wished Me Dead'

Mar. 15, 2025

Yoko Ono and John Lennon in July 1971.Photo:R. Brigden/Daily Express/Getty

R. Brigden/Daily Express/Getty

A new documentary is revisiting the difficult roadYoko Onofaced when she fell in love withJohn Lennonin the late 1960s.

One to One: John & Yokofocuses on never-before-seen material of the high-profile couple as they uproot their life in England tomove to New York City in 1971, where a changingAmerican culturecollides with the pair’s desire to do good in the world.

When Ono and the former Beatle first met in 1966, she was already established as a successful artist. She told the crowd in her speech that because she was an independent, creative woman, society had already deemed her a “bitch” — and when she and Lennon got together, she was “upgraded into a witch,” which was “very flattering,” she quipped.

“Society suddenly treated me as a woman who belonged to a man who is one of the most powerful people in our generation. And some of his closest friends told me that probably I should stay in the background, I should shut up, I should give up my work and that way I’ll be happy,” she said. “Because the whole society started to attack me, and the whole society wished me dead, I started to stutter.”

She continued, “I consider myself a very eloquent woman, and also an attractive woman. And suddenly, because I was associated with John, I was considered an ugly woman, ugly Jap, who took your monument away from you. That’s when I realized how hard it is for women. If I can start to stutter, being a strong woman, it is a very hard road.”

She also expressed disappointment with Lennon’s former bandmatesPaul McCartney,George HarrisonandRingo Starrfor not setting the record straight on her involvement (or lack thereof) in their split.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono in December 1968.Susan Wood/Getty

Susan Wood/Getty

Lennon and Ono married in 1969, and moved to New York City two years later. Lennon wasshot and killed in New Yorkin 1980 at age 40.

The “Imagine” singer, for his part, praised his wife to a journalist in a clip featured in the documentary and explained how falling in love with her changed him for the better.

John Lennon.J Kelly/Daily Sketch/Shutterstock

“I was in the conspiracy subconsciously. You know, the same reason as most men are: ignorance. And I fell in love with an independent, eloquent, outspoken, creative, genius — for me. I started waking up,” he said.

The concert, which took place at Madison Square Garden in N.Y.C., ultimately raised $1.5 million to help the children of Willowbrook State School, a home for children with special needs.

source: people.com