John Lennon was truly a mystery in the eyes of his fans. In some ways, maybe it might have been better if the mystery had been kept up. As more people discover about The Beatles singer’s personal life, the more they wish they hadn’t. Nevertheless, his relationship with Yoko Ono was of special interest to the public and still is.
Lennon allegedly unapologetically cheated on almost all of his relationships, and his relationship with Ono was also no different. But one specific incident that came to light in We All Shine On: John, Yoko & Me had people especially shocked.
John Lennon Openly Cheated on His Wife, Yoko Ono!
A close personal friend of the rock star couple, Yoko Ono and the myth, the legend John Lennon, published a book recently called We All Shine On: John, Yoko & Me, and it shows quite a side of John Lennon that many, although aware, would like to blissfully ignore just so they can love the craft he created.
No doubt the relationship between the rock star and Ono was a troubled one. Although he allegedly frequently indulged in infidelity, there was one moment in particular in his relationship with Ono that was particularly jarring.
Elliot Mintz detailed that particular night in his book by stating, (via People),
Throughout it all, Yoko sat on the sofa, in stunned, mortified silence, as other guests began awkwardly getting up to leave — until they realized that their coats were in the bedroom where John was having s-x.
The book tells of a 1972 event where Lennon and Ono were guests at a gathering hosted by anti-war activist Jerry Rubin in Greenwich Village. As the election results between Richard Nixon and George McGovern came in, Lennon began to drink heavily. Mintz told People magazine,
He was placing [his wife] in the most embarrassing position that you could ever place a woman in — having a romp in the hay in another room with thin walls while your wife was attending a small party and could hear everything,
With Nixon set for a decisive victory, the mood in the room shifted to a more somber tone, according to Mintz. In the midst of his drinking, Lennon ended up having a “loud, raucous s*x,” with a woman that was not Yoko Ono.
This Is What Yoko Ono Did After That Night
This incident led Yoko Ono to realize that while she could forgive Lennon, she could never forget. This marked the beginning of their separation period. Their marriage continued to suffer for some more months until Ono finally sat down with him in 1973.
And just like that, Lennon’s “Lost Weekend” began, a wild 18-month where he dove into an affair with his assistant May Pang and swapped the hustle of New York City for the laid-back vibes of Los Angeles. Mintz further wrote what Ono confessed that night, which was truly heartbreaking, she reportedly said,
I can forgive him, but I don’t know if I can ever forget what happened. I don’t know if it will ever be the same.
Mintz further reflected on that moment, which inspired him to write,
The reality is, as I would learn over the years in the bad behavior department, John would say to me, ‘Ellie,’ which is what he called me, ‘I’m not always the ‘Imagine’ guy.’
Despite all the ups and downs, Ono stood by Lennon until the end in 1980. Despite the alleged things he did, she respected the artist he was, even while acknowledging that he wasn’t as perfect as his fans thought him to be.
We All Shine On: John, Yoko, & Me is available on penguinrandomhouse.com for purchase.
