The unexpected loss of John Lennon deeply impacted the music community, with his assassination catching everyone by surprise. A recently surfaced video reveals that Lennon had been cautioned about such a possibility over ten years earlier.
On the night of December 8, 1980, John Lennon, a leading figure of The Beatles, was fatally shot by Mark David Chapman as he was returning from a recording session. Lennon, at the age of 40, tragically succumbed to his injuries on the steps of his New York home.
After his contract with EMI concluded in 1975, Lennon took a five-year break from the band. The dissolution of The Beatles’ company, Apple Corps, in 1976, allowed him to explore other endeavors.
During this period, Lennon devoted himself to fatherhood, raising his son Sean with Yoko Ono, born the same year his contract ended.
However, John and Yoko had plans to re-enter the music scene with a new album, “Double Fantasy,” which would highlight both of their musical talents. On the evening of his death, Lennon had been engaging with fans and signing autographs after leaving a radio show and studio session.
Among those he encountered was Chapman, a 25-year-old who had adopted born-again Christianity. Chapman was reportedly incensed by Lennon’s 1966 remark that The Beatles were “more popular than Jesus.” Additionally, he resented Lennon’s affluent lifestyle, which contrasted with the message of “All You Need Is Love.” Consequently, Chapman shot Lennon five times in the back that fateful night.
Remarkably, Lennon had been forewarned of such an incident in the late 1960s. A psychic had written him a letter predicting an assassination attempt if he were in the United States.
In a recorded session with the BBC, Lennon, seated next to Ono, read the letter aloud. It claimed that a spirit named Brian Epstein had communicated the warning through a Ouija board. Epstein had been The Beatles’ manager until his death in 1967. Both Lennon and Ono laughed at the message at the time, unaware of the grim future.
Chapman was later assessed by court-appointed psychiatrists, who diagnosed him as a paranoid schizophrenic, but determined he was fit to stand trial. He pleaded guilty to the murder and received a sentence of 20 years to life in prison.
Chapman became eligible for parole in 2022 for the twelfth time. He reportedly admitted that a desire for fame motivated his actions, leading to his parole request being denied due to his apparent disregard for life.
In March 2024, Chapman’s parole application was denied once more. He will have another opportunity for parole in 2027, when he will be in his 70s.
The revelation of the psychic’s warning left many online users puzzled as to why Lennon did not heed the threat more seriously. However, it was speculated that Lennon, being a public figure, had likely received numerous threats throughout his career.
Tragically, this one proved to be genuine.