Paul McCartney reflects on John Lennon meeting Yoko Ono
Paul McCartney may be one of the most beloved figures in music, but even the Beatles legend hasn’t escaped his share of high-profile feuds.
From strained friendships to public spats, McCartney’s decades-long career has been as eventful off stage as it has been on. We’re delving into some of the most shocking fallouts that rocked Hollywood and the music world alike.
From his now-infamous disagreement with Michael Jackson over music publishing rights to the fiery exchanges with his fellow Beatles bandmate John Lennon, McCartney has often found himself at the centre of drama.
And it’s not just within the music industry – his run-in with actor Alec Baldwin over a heated yoga studio incident raised eyebrows in Tinseltown. Add his historically icy relationship with Yoko Ono into the mix, and it’s clear McCartney’s charm hasn’t always been enough to smooth things over.
As the Yesterday star prepares to bring his highly anticipated Got Back Tour to the UK with two shows each in London and Manchester, it marks the Beatles legend’s first UK concerts since 2018—excluding his iconic Glastonbury headline set in 2022.
With excitement building for his return, let’s delve into some of Paul McCartney’s most infamous feuds that have kept fans and tabloids talking for decades.
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The former Beatles legend has navigated a series of high-profile feuds (Image: Getty)
John Lennon
Paul McCartney and John Lennon may have made musical magic together, but their legendary partnership ended in one of the most bitter feuds in music history. When The Beatles disbanded in 1970, tensions exploded, fuelled by clashing egos, creative differences, and the shadow of Yoko Ono.
Macca was said to be fuming over Lennon’s growing obsession with Yoko, believing it disrupted the band, while Lennon accused McCartney of being a control freak who treated the group like his personal project.
The fallout wasn’t just behind closed doors – it played out publicly in interviews and even in their music. Lennon’s scathing 1971 track How Do You Sleep? brutally mocked McCartney, accusing him of being boring and uninspired. McCartney hit back with subtle digs in his solo work, including Too Many People.
Though their relationship was icy for years, the two began to mend fences before Lennon’s tragic death in 1980, leaving the timeless crooner to mourn the “irreplaceable” bond they once shared.
When The Beatles disbanded in 1970, tensions exploded (Image: Getty)
Paul blamed Yoko Ono for the band’s divide (Image: Getty)
Yoko Ono
Paul McCartney’s feud with Yoko Ono is the stuff of rock-and-roll legend. When Yoko entered John Lennon’s life, McCartney reportedly saw her as the ultimate wedge driving The Beatles apart. Her constant presence in the studio was said to leave McCartney fuming, as he believed she disrupted the band’s once-perfect chemistry.
Yoko, meanwhile, accused McCartney of being a control freak who tried to keep Lennon under his thumb.
Things got nastier after The Beatles’ messy split, with McCartney publicly blaming Yoko for tearing the group apart, while Yoko hit back by calling him insecure and overbearing. McCartney even cheekily joked she “broke up the biggest band in the world,” fuelling the decades-long animosity.
Although the two eventually buried the hatchet – at least publicly – their frosty relationship has never truly thawed. For fans, the McCartney-Ono drama remains one of the most explosive rivalries in music history.
Once close friends and collaborators, their bond soured in 1985 (Image: Getty)
Michael Jackson
Paul McCartney’s infamous feud with the late Michael Jackson remains one of the most shocking fallouts in music history.
Once close friends and collaborators, their bond soured in 1985 and was never mended before the King of Pop’s death in June 2009.
The pair initially worked together on hits like The Girl Is Mine—a song McCartney later admitted he wasn’t particularly fond of, featured on Jackson’s iconic Thriller album. Their second collaboration, Say, Say, Say and The Man, appeared on McCartney’s 1983 album, Pipes of Peace.
The friendship unraveled when Jackson, seeking financial advice, asked the chart-topping legend how to safeguard his wealth. McCartney suggested investing in music publishing, only to have Jackson buy the rights to the Lennon-McCartney song catalogue for $47.5 million—essentially pulling the rug out from under McCartney.
Reflecting on the betrayal, McCartney said, “I think it’s dodgy to do something like that. To be someone’s friend and then buy the rug they’re standing on.”
Despite the bad blood, the 82-year-old Beatles legend was seen seated alongside Michael’s daughter, Paris Jackson, 26, at daughter Stella McCartney’s Paris Fashion Week event earlier this year—a surprising moment of harmony after decades of tension.
Alec called the Beatles legend an “a**hole.” (Image: Getty)
Alec Baldwin
In a May 2024 episode of the Our Way with Paul Anka and Skip Bronson podcast, Alec Baldwin revealed an encounter with Paul McCartney that left fans both amused and surprised.
Baldwin recounted how the Hey Jude hitmaker’s impressive yoga skills, particularly his ability to master headstands led him to jokingly call the Beatles legend an “asshole.” Reflecting on the moment, Baldwin admitted: “I never thought I’d call one of The Beatles an a**hole, but he was just always showing us up with his physical skills!”
While the remark was clearly made in jest, Baldwin admitted that McCartney’s yoga prowess sometimes frustrated him, as the musician seemed to outperform everyone in the class.
The story underscored the friendly rapport between the two stars, with Baldwin poking fun at McCartney. But the Beatles legend has remained silent on the playful dig, leaving fans wondering if the pair really are friends or foes.