John Lennon's son Julian breaks silence on 'nasty feud' with brother Sean

20 December 2023 , 15:50

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Julian Lennon says alleged feud with brother Sean is 'such bull' (Image: Getty Images)

John Lennon's eldest son has dismissed rumours and a family feud and revealed how strong his relationship is with his younger brother.

Julian Lennon says he's never had a fight with Sean Ono Lennon - dismissing claims they hate each other as "such bull" - and opens up about about how they support each other in a new revealing interview. Julian, 60, also shares how he, Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Ringo Starr and all The Beatles members' offspring are like "a big old, weird family".

The Beatles legend John Lennon became a father for the first time in April 1963, when the Imagine singer's then wife Cynthia Powell gave birth to Julian. John and Cynthia eventually divorced in November 1968 and John and Julian's father-son relationship became strained and distant at times. Julian has previously mentioned how he was closer to his father's bandmate Sir Paul McCartney while growing up, with Paul even penning Hey Jude as a ode to console a young 'Jules' during his parents divorce.

Julian Lennon with his father's widow Yoko Ono and his half-brother Sean Ono Lennon (WireImage)

On his 35th birthday, John became a dad-of-two in 1975 when his second wife Yoko Ono gave birth to Sean Ono Lennon in New York City. The Scouse star threw himself into being a parent following Sean's birth and became a house husband until his death in December 1980.

Rumours of a feud between Julian and Sean have swirled around for years, but the record has finally been set straight thanks to Julian giving a new interview regarding his family and sibling relationships. Looking back on the 2021 red carpet premiere for The Beatles documentary Get Back, Julian revealed his younger half-brother initially had initially had reservations about attending the glitzy event.

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"He felt overwhelming pressure. And I didn’t particularly want to go. But he said he felt obligated to go," Julian told Esquire. "So, because I love him so much I said, 'Listen, I’m coming with you. We’ll face the demons together'. And it’s funny because there’s always been, especially in the U.K. press, 'Lennon Sons Feuding,' this, that. We’ve never had a fight in our life. It’s such bull."

Julian went on to admit "there has been friction, no question" between family members in the past, but as everyone gets older, people realise what is actually precious in life. The 60-year-old then went on to discuss his relationships with the surviving members of The Beatles – Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr – as well as the children of all members.

"The love for Sean, and the love for Yoko [Ono], and Stella [McCartney], and Paul, and Mary [McCartney], and Dhani [Harrison] and Zak [Starkey] — it’s a big old, weird family," Julian shared with the publication. "But as they say, families are always a bit screwed up."

Zoe Delaney