Paul McCartney Looks Back on Beatles Controversies in Man on the Run

In his recent documentary, *Man on the Run*, Paul McCartney reflects on one of the more contentious moments in The Beatles’ history—his choice to sue the band. He recalls what he describes as a pivotal “Fuck you, John” moment, which came during a tumultuous period that led into his venture with Wings. The aftermath of The Beatles’ breakup was complicated, and McCartney faced significant challenges, especially following the death of their original manager, Brian Epstein. The question of who would take his place became quite heated.

McCartney was adamant about not wanting Allen Klein, who was supported by John Lennon, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison, to step in as the new manager. He expressed concerns, stating, “I saw it through. At this rate, Allen Klein is going to swallow all of the Beatles’ fortune. I thought I had to fight it.”

In the documentary, released on February 27, he shares how his family supported him, suggesting a lawsuit against Klein—but not against the band itself. “These guys are my people. They’re going to hate me for that…and I’m going to hate myself for that,” he reflected. However, he felt leaving the situation unaddressed would only deepen his financial woes.

The lawsuit he filed in 1970 centered around his belief that Klein was mismanaging their multimedia company, Apple Corps. McCartney insisted the lawsuit was about disentangling their business rather than disbanding the band musically—something that was already happening.

John Lennon later took a jab at McCartney in the song “How Do You Sleep?” portraying him in a negative light for stepping away from the iconic group. McCartney highlighted some lyrics, noting, “All you did was ‘Yesterday’/And now that you’re gone, it’s just another day.” He claimed, “The only thing you did was ‘Yesterday,’ which was obviously suggested by Allen Klein.” He added, “But in the back of my mind, I was thinking, ‘If all you’d ever done was ‘Yesterday,’ you, John.”

By the time 1973 rolled around, it appeared that the other members—Lennon, Harrison, and Starr—also recognized Klein’s mismanagement and eventually cut ties with him. McCartney candidly stated, “John broke up the Beatles. But I could rap. And it’s a bit of a burden to bear.”

McCartney reminisced about his early bond with Lennon, recalling their teenage years and the whirlwind of Beatlemania. He acknowledged the complexity of their friendship, saying, “Even though he was really mean, John was always that guy to me…there was that understanding.” He expressed a lasting fondness for the band, musing, “I wonder if it could have been done differently, but it was a magical group.”