Yoko Ono’s Heartbreaking Moment After John Lennon’s Tragic Death Revealed in New Biography
John Lennon’s tragic death in 1980 profoundly impacted his wife, Yoko Ono, and their son, Sean. The former Beatle was just 40 years old when he was shot and killed by Mark David Chapman outside the Dakota apartment building in New York City, where he lived with Ono and Sean.
The immediate aftermath of Lennon’s death was devastating for Ono, a renowned artist and musician. Her life story is being shared like never before in Yoko, a new biography by journalist and author David Sheff, set for release on March 25 from Simon & Schuster. The intimate biography explores Ono’s remarkable life, from her early years in Japan and her progressive artwork to her love story with Lennon and the journey she took to rebuild her life after his loss.
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Yoko features interviews with Ono, her family, close friends, and collaborators, and is the result of Sheff’s long-time friendship with Ono. Sheff has known Ono since 1980 and previously covered her and Sean for PEOPLE in the 1980s.
An exclusive excerpt from the book details the heart-wrenching moments following Lennon’s death. After Lennon was shot, police officers rushed him to Roosevelt Hospital, with Yoko following in a separate police car. In the hospital, Yoko was taken to a private room as doctors tried to resuscitate John. In a state of shock, she called their friend David Geffen, who rushed to her side.
“Yoko just sat, frozen, and it was terrifying,” Geffen recalled. After what felt like an eternity, a doctor entered and told her he couldn’t confirm John’s condition. Desperately, Yoko pleaded, “Please tell me he’s okay.” The doctor’s response was grim: “I can’t tell you that.”
In disbelief, Yoko cried out, “It’s not true. You’re lying. It can’t be. I don’t believe you.” But the truth became undeniable when a nurse handed her John’s wedding ring. Overcome with grief, Yoko sobbed uncontrollably. Her thoughts then turned to Sean. What if he was awake and saw the news? She tearfully requested the doctor delay the official announcement of John’s death so she could be the one to break the news to their son.
Accompanied by Geffen, Yoko left the hospital and made her way back to the Dakota. There, she learned that Sean was still asleep. In a daze, she asked the household staff to notify family members and others, including Julian Lennon and John’s aunt Mimi, about the tragedy. Yoko, in sheer distress, requested to be left alone and retreated to her bedroom, shattered by the loss of her husband.
The full story of this painful chapter in Yoko Ono’s life is shared in Yoko, available for pre-order and set to be released on March 25, 2025.