Sean Lennon Defends Paul McCartney Over Controversial Three-Word Reaction to John Lennon’s Death

Sean Lennon, the son of Yoko Ono and the late John Lennon, came to his father's former bandmate's defence in the new documentary, Paul McCartney: Man on the Run.

The new documentary follows McCartney in the years following The Beatles' break-up and the formation of Wings, the band Paul co-founded with his wife, Linda McCartney. Wings broke up following the cancellation of their Japan tour in 1980, after McCartney was arrested and jailed for cannabis possession.

The disbandment was also likely influenced by the murder of Lennon on December 8, 1980. The peace activist was shot outside his apartment building in New York City by Mark David Chapman, and subsequently died of his injuries at the nearby Roosevelt Hospital.

Paul McCartney Received Criticism From the Press for His Reaction to John Lennon’s Murder — But Sean Lennon is Much More Sympathetic

In the hours following the murder, Paul, appearing pale and tired, was ambushed by TV reporters as he left a music studio.

"[I'm] very shocked, you know. Terrible news," he said.

He was very brief in responses when bombarded with questions. When asked who told him the news when he said he found out via phone call, he simply said, "from a friend of mine." Paul was asked if he had been in contact with the other Beatles yet, and he simply replied "no," before replying "probably, yeah," when asked if he will be in touch.

McCartney told reporters he went to the studio to record music for the day, and that he "didn't want to stay at home." When prompted about why felt that way, he bluntly stated "I didn't feel like it."

It was three words in particular that were met with fury by some Lennon mourners at the time: “[It’s a] drag, isn’t it?” Paul said, before leaving.

While more modern viewers of the interview will see the facial expressions, eye movements, and short statements as the characteristics of a man very much in shock at the loss of a dear friend and songwriting partner, others at the time concluded it was because McCartney was cold and uncaring.

This is not a sentiment ever shared by Sean Lennon, who was only five years old at the time of his father's murder. “I always notice the look in his eyes and the tone of his voice,” Sean said in the documentary film, as obtained by People. “Really felt like someone who was unable to process what was going on.”

“He just seemed almost robotic, which I think some people took possibly as coldness, but I never took it as that,” he continued, “‘cause I understood, even then, what it was like when something that terrible happens.”