Reporter Refuted Rumor That John Lennon and Yoko Ono Didn’t Really Love Each Other
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Classic rock stars often found themselves at the center of unfounded rumors, with John Lennon and Yoko Ono being no exception. Amidst accusations that their love was a mere facade, a journalist who intimately spoke with the couple refuted these claims. Furthermore, John himself had much to say about the authenticity of their relationship.
Renowned journalist David Sheff, who conducted a revealing interview with John for Playboy, shared his insights in the book “All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono.”
In a 2020 essay reflecting on their romance, Sheff emphatically dismissed the notion that their happiness was a fiction.
“Forty years after John’s death, his and Yoko’s relationship continues to be dissected, some claiming that the happiness John and Yoko showed to the world — to me — was a fiction,” Sheff wrote. “It wasn’t. I witnessed the joy and love between them. I’ve never been with two people as obviously in love.”
He continued,
“They expressed it in words but also in the way they treated each other — the way they looked at each other.”
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Sheff went beyond their personal relationship, acknowledging John and Yoko’s impact as activists.
He highlighted the global resonance of the Plastic Ono Band’s “Give Peace a Chance” and John’s iconic “Imagine,” which have been used in protests against oppression.
“Like millions of others, I still grieve John’s death, but he lives on in his music and his and Yoko’s message,” Sheff expressed. “Along with its continued political relevance, John and Yoko’s message continues to inspire me on a personal level.”
He added,
“Their message is simultaneously complex and simple: Know yourself and learn to think for yourself. Do for others when you are able. Though living is easy with eyes closed, we must fight the impulse. If we don’t like what we see, change it. At least try. Celebrate life. Imagine a better world.”
In his interview with Sheff, John emphasized the importance of finding inner strength rather than relying on external guidance.
“There’s nothing you can know that isn’t known. Nothing you can see that isn’t shown. Nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be,” John shared, encapsulating his philosophy.
In a 1969 interview animated by Blank on Blank, John candidly spoke about his relationship with Yoko.
He attributed their strong connection to a simple truth – he loved her. John revealed that he only truly understood the meaning of “All You Need Is Love” after meeting Yoko, transforming his abstract view of romance into a tangible experience.
“Love is like a precious plant. You can’t just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it’s going to get on by itself. You’ve got to keep on watering it. You’ve got to really look after it and nurture it,” John explained.
Contrary to the rumors that swirled around them, both John and Yoko expressed their deep affection for each other. Their love story, marked by sincerity and mutual respect, dispels the unfounded claims that their connection was anything but genuine.
