Music

John Lennon cruelly mocked disabled people in resurfaced video clip

by Jesse Locke

The disturbing stories of John Lennon’s domestic violence, emotional abuse, and homophobia have been well documented over the years. Now, a cringe-inducing video clip has resurfaced, showing the former Beatle mocking physically and mentally disabled people in an onstage performance.

The 1960s episode of UK TV series It Was Alright in the… recently proved the irony of its name. A black and white clip (that has actually been hidden in plain view) shows Lennon speaking with a cartoonish speech impediment, then twisting his hands into a cruel parody of impaired functions while clapping and stomping his feet. Meanwhile, a crowd screams along in the background. Watch below:

Lorainne Bellamy, a spokeswoman for the UK disability charity Mencap, called the footage “shocking and painful to watch” in a response for The Independent. Bellamy added that “Times may have changed, but I always find it hard to believe how such famous people can have these horrible views about real people.”