John Lennon Had An Infamous Attitude Most Fans Don’t Know

John Lennon was born on October 9, 1940, to Julia and Alfred Lennon. At the time, his father was away working as a commercial seaman. Alfred provided the family with only a monthly salary and spent much of his time away. He eventually disappeared in 1944, returning only to find that Julia had been seeing another man and didn’t want him back. In 1946, John’s parents had a heated argument, leaving John to choose between them. He chose to stay with his mother, but he grew up with his Aunt Mimi due to Julia’s inability to care for him. Although Julia wasn’t able to raise him, she still made time to give him music lessons and often visited.

A Troubling Childhood

John Lennon’s upbringing was far from ideal, influencing his behavior as a child. Raised by Aunt Mimi, Lennon’s early life was filled with tension and uncertainty. His troubled past made him a rebellious youngster, and he didn’t always act kindly towards others. Reports from the time reveal a darker side to Lennon’s personality. He was involved in gangs, shoplifting, and bullying both classmates and teachers. He also had an unsettling fascination with people who were disabled.

John Lennon’s Attitude Toward People with Disabilities

Lennon’s behavior toward those with disabilities has been the subject of much discussion. In the 2009 biographical film Nowhere Boy, John’s difficult youth is explored through the lens of his relationship with his family and friends and his early days with the Quarrymen, the band that would eventually become The Beatles. However, real-life accounts paint a different picture of young John.

According to a 2009 Guardian article, Lennon was known to bully classmates and even had a cruel interest in mocking people with disabilities. Ray Coleman’s 1985 biography, Lennon: The Definitive Biography, further states that Lennon enjoyed making fun of those who were physically impaired. Thelma Pickles, a former art school classmate, recalled how Lennon would “run up to anyone who had any physical impairments and make obscene expressions while laughing at them.”

Coleman also wrote, “John Lennon developed an instinctive ability to mock the weak, with whom he had no patience.” Thelma Pickles elaborated, saying:

“Anyone limping or crippled or hunchbacked, or deformed in any way, John laughed and ran up to them to make horrible faces.”