When John Lennon spoke to London’s Evening Standard in March 1966, he had no idea five words would ignite international outrage. “We’re more popular than Jesus now,” Lennon casually remarked while discussing religion’s decline in England.
The comment barely registered in Britain. But when American teen magazine Datebook republished it that July, the backlash was explosive. Radio stations banned Beatles music, fans burned records in massive bonfires across the Bible Belt, and the Vatican issued a formal condemnation.
At a Chicago press conference, a visibly uncomfortable Lennon attempted damage control: “I’m not saying we’re better or greater… I was simply pointing out a fact.” The clarification did little to stem the outrage.
Manager Brian Epstein considered canceling their upcoming US tour, fearing violence. While they proceeded, the controversy marked a turning point—The Beatles soon stopped touring entirely, focusing instead on studio work that would revolutionize popular music.