More popular than Jesus

"More popular than Jesus"^{[nb 1]} is part of a remark made by John Lennon of the Beatles in a March 1966 interview in which he argued that the public were more infatuated with the band than with Jesus, and that Christianity was declining to the extent that it might be outlasted by rock music. His opinions drew little controversy when originally published in the London newspaper The Evening Standard, but drew angry reactions from Evangelical Christian communities when republished in the United States that July.

Lennon's comments incited protests and threats, particularly throughout the Bible Belt in the Southern United States. Some radio stations stopped playing Beatles songs, records were publicly burned, and press conferences were cancelled. The controversy coincided with the band's 1966 US tour and overshadowed press coverage of their newest album, Revolver. Lennon later repeatedly apologised and clarified at a series of press conferences that he was not comparing himself or the band to Christ.

The controversy exacerbated the band's unhappiness with touring, which they never undertook again; Lennon also refrained from touring in his solo career. In 1980, he was murdered by a fan of the Beatles, Mark David Chapman, who later cited Lennon's quote as one of his possible motives in the killing.

^ Sullivan 1987, p. 313.
^ Womack & Davis 2012, p. 103.
^ Gould 2008, pp. 308–309.

Cite error: There are <ref group=nb> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=nb}} template (see the help page).

[FOOTNOTESullivan1987313-1] Sullivan 1987, p. 313.

[FOOTNOTEWomackDavis2012103-2] Womack & Davis 2012, p. 103.

[FOOTNOTEGould2008308–309-3] Gould 2008, pp. 308–309.

[nb 1]