This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
John Lennon made the remark to Maureen Cleave of the London Evening Standard during an extensive series of interiews with each Beatle.
The comment made little impact in the UK – but in the US the interview was published in ‘Datebook’ magazine – who put John’s comment on the front cover.
The Beatles forthcoming US tour was in danger of being cancelled, until Brian Epstein flew to the US to dampen down the controversy.
Even so, the Beatles first press conference of the tour turned into an interview with John about his comments, with the other Beatles hardly getting a word in.
For more on the controversy, see