Chilling statement by John Lennon 8 years before his murder revealed in haunting resurfaced phone call
The phone call features in an upcoming documentary about John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono
A new documentary giving a peek into the life of late musician John Lennon includes a phone call the star made eight years before his murder which is haunting in hindsight.
John Lennon continues to be a fascinating and pioneering figure of the 60s and 70s and a new documentary is taking another look at the ups and downs of his life.
While many are familiar with his music in The Beatles, some are less aware of just how much of a political activist he was in the 70s.
One to One: John & Yoko, set to be released this year, focuses on Lennon and wife Yoko Ono’s move to New York as well as the tense political climate in the 1970s using never-before-seen footage and phone calls.
The documentary pays special attention to the Free the People Tour which Lennon had planned with activist Jerry Rubin as a mix of music and politics.
And the reason you likely haven’t heard of it is because it ultimately ended up being canceled.
The tour was set to climax at Republican Convention in August 1972, and Lennon’s goal was to raise money that would pay bail for people unable to afford it themselves.
But one scene shown features a phone call Lennon had with drummer Jim Keltner, and it proves particularly haunting when you remember how the star was killed.
John Lennon continues to be a fascinating and pioneering figure of the 60s and 70s and a new documentary is taking another look at the ups and downs of his life.
While many are familiar with his music in The Beatles, some are less aware of just how much of a political activist he was in the 70s.
One to One: John & Yoko, set to be released this year, focuses on Lennon and wife Yoko Ono’s move to New York as well as the tense political climate in the 1970s using never-before-seen footage and phone calls.
The documentary pays special attention to the Free the People Tour which Lennon had planned with activist Jerry Rubin as a mix of music and politics.
And the reason you likely haven’t heard of it is because it ultimately ended up being canceled.
The tour was set to climax at Republican Convention in August 1972, and Lennon’s goal was to raise money that would pay bail for people unable to afford it themselves.
But one scene shown features a phone call Lennon had with drummer Jim Keltner, and it proves particularly haunting when you remember how the star was killed.
The new documentary will look at John Lennon and his wife's life in New York (Mercury Films/YouTube)
Mark David Chapman, a former security guard and YMCA employee, shot and killed Lennon on December 8 1980, as he and his wife Yoko Ono were returning to their New York City apartment.
During the phone call, he makes it clear he is aware of the potential for violence due to his outspoken views.
Keltner asked Lennon if he has ‘any paranoia’ about people heading into the event and The Beatles singer replied: “What people?.. You mean people trying to kill us or something like that? I’m not about to get myself shot.
“It’ll cause excitement in its own way. But, er, you know, I’m still an artist, but a revolutionary artist, right?”
Mark David Chapman, a former security guard and YMCA employee, shot and killed Lennon on December 8 1980, as he and his wife Yoko Ono were returning to their New York City apartment.
During the phone call, he makes it clear he is aware of the potential for violence due to his outspoken views.
Keltner asked Lennon if he has ‘any paranoia’ about people heading into the event and The Beatles singer replied: “What people?.. You mean people trying to kill us or something like that? I’m not about to get myself shot.
“It’ll cause excitement in its own way. But, er, you know, I’m still an artist, but a revolutionary artist, right?”
John Lennon was considered outspoken about his political views while he was alive (Rowland Scherman/Getty Images)
Lennon later admitted to a journalist that he had grown paranoid he was being followed and had even started taping his own phone calls.
The documentary showed a conversation he had where he said: “We started noticing people hanging outside the apartment. And I have a driver, he’s an ex-cop. But we’re getting followed by this car, all the time.
“So we’re all very nervous.”Featured Image Credit: Bettmann via Getty Images/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Topics: Music, Celebrity, Documentaries
Nurse made chilling statement before being sentenced to 380 years in prison for the deaths of 17 patients
Heather Pressdee injected her patients with lethal doses of insulin
Lennon later admitted to a journalist that he had grown paranoid he was being followed and had even started taping his own phone calls.
The documentary showed a conversation he had where he said: “We started noticing people hanging outside the apartment. And I have a driver, he’s an ex-cop. But we’re getting followed by this car, all the time.
“So we’re all very nervous.”Featured Image Credit: Bettmann via Getty Images/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Topics: Music, Celebrity, Documentaries
Nurse made chilling statement before being sentenced to 380 years in prison for the deaths of 17 patients
Heather Pressdee injected her patients with lethal doses of insulin
A nurse who killed at least 17 patients has been sentenced to hundreds of years in prison - and her final statement will send shivers down your spine.
On 2 May, 41-year-old Heather Pressdee was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of murder alongside 19 counts of attempted murder.
Pressdee, who'd worked as a nurse in Pennsylvania, injected lethal or potentially lethal doses of insulin into numerous patients under her care.
She often carried out her crimes during the night shift when staffing was low, and between 2020 and 2023, she played a role in the deaths of at least 17 people.
Her victims ranged in age from 43 to 105.
On 2 May, 41-year-old Heather Pressdee was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of murder alongside 19 counts of attempted murder.
Pressdee, who'd worked as a nurse in Pennsylvania, injected lethal or potentially lethal doses of insulin into numerous patients under her care.
She often carried out her crimes during the night shift when staffing was low, and between 2020 and 2023, she played a role in the deaths of at least 17 people.
Her victims ranged in age from 43 to 105.
Heather Pressdee has been sentenced to hundreds of years in prison for multiple accounts of murder and attempted murder (Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General)
Pressdee was initially charged with killing two nursing home patients and injuring a third in May of last year.
An investigation into these incidents led to dozens of further charges against her and her nursing licence was subsequently suspended.
During a February hearing, Pressdee indicated that she wanted to plead guilty for her crimes.
When her attorneys asked why, she made a short but chilling statement.
"Because I am guilty," she said.
In the Butler County courthouse where the sentencing took place earlier this week, nearly 40 of her victims’ family members spoke about how her crimes had affected their lives.
Local TV station WTAE reported that Elizabeth Simons Ozella - whose mother, Irene Simons, was one of Pressdee's victims - said she would 'never forgive [her] for what she did.'
“She took someone from this earth that she had no right to take, and she played God when she didn’t have that right.”
Pressdee was initially charged with killing two nursing home patients and injuring a third in May of last year.
An investigation into these incidents led to dozens of further charges against her and her nursing licence was subsequently suspended.
During a February hearing, Pressdee indicated that she wanted to plead guilty for her crimes.
When her attorneys asked why, she made a short but chilling statement.
"Because I am guilty," she said.
In the Butler County courthouse where the sentencing took place earlier this week, nearly 40 of her victims’ family members spoke about how her crimes had affected their lives.
Local TV station WTAE reported that Elizabeth Simons Ozella - whose mother, Irene Simons, was one of Pressdee's victims - said she would 'never forgive [her] for what she did.'
“She took someone from this earth that she had no right to take, and she played God when she didn’t have that right.”
The former nurse killed at least 17 people by injecting them with lethal doses of insulin (CBS PITTSBURGH/YouTube)
Melinda Brown, whose brother Nicholas Cymbol also died from an insulin overdose administered by Pressdee, added: "She’s pure evil."
And another told the court: "She is not sick. She is not insane. She is evil personified. I looked into the face of Satan myself the morning she killed my father."
Pressdee didn’t look at the speakers or react to their statements during the hearing but later apologised for her crimes, saying: "I’m very sorry. I’m sorry for what I’ve done."
By pleading guilty, Pressdee avoided a trial as well as the possibility of execution by lethal injection.
Instead, the judge presiding over her case handed her three consecutive life sentences for the murders she'd committed.
Pressdee was also ordered to serve a further 380 to 760 years in prison for the attempted murders.Featured Image Credit: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General / CBS PITTSBURGH/YouTube
Topics: US News, Crime
Melinda Brown, whose brother Nicholas Cymbol also died from an insulin overdose administered by Pressdee, added: "She’s pure evil."
And another told the court: "She is not sick. She is not insane. She is evil personified. I looked into the face of Satan myself the morning she killed my father."
Pressdee didn’t look at the speakers or react to their statements during the hearing but later apologised for her crimes, saying: "I’m very sorry. I’m sorry for what I’ve done."
By pleading guilty, Pressdee avoided a trial as well as the possibility of execution by lethal injection.
Instead, the judge presiding over her case handed her three consecutive life sentences for the murders she'd committed.
Pressdee was also ordered to serve a further 380 to 760 years in prison for the attempted murders.Featured Image Credit: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General / CBS PITTSBURGH/YouTube
Topics: US News, Crime
Devastating footage shows Celine Dion suffering symptoms of Stiff Person Syndrome years before diagnosis
Celine Dion revealed her diagnosis in 2022
Footage of Céline Dion revealing the first symptoms of Stiff Person Syndrome has been unearthed in one of her old documentaries.
In 2022, the 'Heart Will Go On' singer revealed that she'd been diagnosed with an incurable autoimmune neurological disease called stiff-person syndrome (SPS) in an emotional video posted to Instagram.
And footage from her 2010 documentary, Céline: Through the Eyes of the World, the singer is seen complaining of vocal ‘spasms’ and ‘cold like symptoms.’
Footage of Céline Dion revealing the first symptoms of Stiff Person Syndrome has been unearthed in one of her old documentaries.
In 2022, the 'Heart Will Go On' singer revealed that she'd been diagnosed with an incurable autoimmune neurological disease called stiff-person syndrome (SPS) in an emotional video posted to Instagram.
And footage from her 2010 documentary, Céline: Through the Eyes of the World, the singer is seen complaining of vocal ‘spasms’ and ‘cold like symptoms.’
Earlier this week, the singer confirmed that she had been dealing with the condition behind the scenes before revealing it to the public in 2022.
Speaking in an interview with Today’s Hoda Kotb, she said that the burden of keeping her diagnosis a secret ended up being 'too much'.
"What do you want me to say? I have what? We did not know what was going on. I should've stopped and taken the time to figure out and taken the time like it's not enough." she said.
"My husband as well, was fighting for his own life. I had to raise my kids, I had to hide, I had to try and be a hero, feeling my body leaving me, holding onto my own dreams.
"And lying, for me, the burden was too much. Lying to people who got me where I am today - I could not do it anymore."
Speaking in an interview with Today’s Hoda Kotb, she said that the burden of keeping her diagnosis a secret ended up being 'too much'.
"What do you want me to say? I have what? We did not know what was going on. I should've stopped and taken the time to figure out and taken the time like it's not enough." she said.
"My husband as well, was fighting for his own life. I had to raise my kids, I had to hide, I had to try and be a hero, feeling my body leaving me, holding onto my own dreams.
"And lying, for me, the burden was too much. Lying to people who got me where I am today - I could not do it anymore."
Céline Dion was seen to be experiencing symptoms of SPS in her 2010 documentary, Céline: Through the Eyes (Sony Pictures)
Those with SPS experience uncontrollable muscle spasms, and Dion described the symptoms when she is singing as being like 'somebody is strangling you'.
“It’s like somebody is pushing your larynx/pharynx this way,” she said gesturing to herself.
And in the clip from the 2010 documentary, Céline, then 40, is seen speaking to a doctor about her symptoms.
“My main problem now is my neck, I cannot relax my neck so I cannot relax my vocal chords so I cannot vocal exercise well,” she said in the clip.
“My main problem is not that I can't do the highs, I'm spasming, my eyebrows are spasming, my ears. I tell you I'm gonna flip soon, I'm telling you.”
Those with SPS experience uncontrollable muscle spasms, and Dion described the symptoms when she is singing as being like 'somebody is strangling you'.
“It’s like somebody is pushing your larynx/pharynx this way,” she said gesturing to herself.
And in the clip from the 2010 documentary, Céline, then 40, is seen speaking to a doctor about her symptoms.
“My main problem now is my neck, I cannot relax my neck so I cannot relax my vocal chords so I cannot vocal exercise well,” she said in the clip.
“My main problem is not that I can't do the highs, I'm spasming, my eyebrows are spasming, my ears. I tell you I'm gonna flip soon, I'm telling you.”
In the clip from the 2010 documentary, Céline speaks to a doctor about her symptoms (Sony Pictures)
She also spoke with her team while on tour about her ongoing struggles.
“To make a long story short, by the time I went to the meet and greet my breathing was too rapid, I was spasmed up too much, I couldn't finish a phrase,” Céline said.
“The show has not started yet, I was saying hello to people and I couldn't breathe, I went on with the show
“And when I sang "I drove all night for the first time" it was [out of tune] "I drove all night" right there. Yesterday night after doing everything I was spitting out mucus.”
She then tells her dancers that she's having a 'really a hard time right now'.
The 'Ashes' singer has not performed much in the public since 2019, but has been working on an upcoming Amazon Prime documentary about her health struggles entitled: I Am: Céline Dion, which will be released this month.Featured Image Credit: Sony Pictures
Topics: Celebrity, Music
XXXTentacion's murder trial is set to begin five years after his death
The rapper was fatally shot in 2018.
The trial for the murder of rapper XXXTentacion is finally set to begin five years after he was fatally shot.
XXXTentacion, real name Jahseh Onfroy, was killed at Deerfield Beach, Florida in June 2018 during what police have called a robbery attempt.
CCTV footage from the incident shows two masked men cornering the rapper in his BMW, before jumping out of their SUV to steal a satchel of cash from him and shooting him multiple times.
Five years on, the suspects and a third alleged accomplice are finally set to stand trial for first-degree murder.
She also spoke with her team while on tour about her ongoing struggles.
“To make a long story short, by the time I went to the meet and greet my breathing was too rapid, I was spasmed up too much, I couldn't finish a phrase,” Céline said.
“The show has not started yet, I was saying hello to people and I couldn't breathe, I went on with the show
“And when I sang "I drove all night for the first time" it was [out of tune] "I drove all night" right there. Yesterday night after doing everything I was spitting out mucus.”
She then tells her dancers that she's having a 'really a hard time right now'.
The 'Ashes' singer has not performed much in the public since 2019, but has been working on an upcoming Amazon Prime documentary about her health struggles entitled: I Am: Céline Dion, which will be released this month.Featured Image Credit: Sony Pictures
Topics: Celebrity, Music
XXXTentacion's murder trial is set to begin five years after his death
The rapper was fatally shot in 2018.
The trial for the murder of rapper XXXTentacion is finally set to begin five years after he was fatally shot.
XXXTentacion, real name Jahseh Onfroy, was killed at Deerfield Beach, Florida in June 2018 during what police have called a robbery attempt.
CCTV footage from the incident shows two masked men cornering the rapper in his BMW, before jumping out of their SUV to steal a satchel of cash from him and shooting him multiple times.
Five years on, the suspects and a third alleged accomplice are finally set to stand trial for first-degree murder.
MediaPunch Inc / Alamy Stock Photo
Michael Boatwright, 28, is accused of pulling the trigger on the rapper, while Dedrick Williams, 26, and Trayvon Newsome, 24, have been charged as alleged accomplices.
Prosecutors have claimed that Boatwright and Newsome are the two men seen in surveillance footage from XXXTentacion's shooting.
Investigators have also stated that Boatwright's fingerprints were found at the scene, on the driver door of the rapper's BMW, while Williams was identified by a witness.
However, the defence are expected to argue that the late rapper had beef with lots of other people who would also have had motive to rob him.
The three men are also charged with armed robbery, and have pleaded not guilty.
If convicted, all three could potentially face life sentences.
Michael Boatwright, 28, is accused of pulling the trigger on the rapper, while Dedrick Williams, 26, and Trayvon Newsome, 24, have been charged as alleged accomplices.
Prosecutors have claimed that Boatwright and Newsome are the two men seen in surveillance footage from XXXTentacion's shooting.
Investigators have also stated that Boatwright's fingerprints were found at the scene, on the driver door of the rapper's BMW, while Williams was identified by a witness.
However, the defence are expected to argue that the late rapper had beef with lots of other people who would also have had motive to rob him.
The three men are also charged with armed robbery, and have pleaded not guilty.
If convicted, all three could potentially face life sentences.
Abaca Press / Alamy Stock Photo
A fourth suspect, Robert Allen, 26, who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a plea deal last year, is set to testify against the three men in the upcoming trial.
The trial in Fort Lauderdale is expected to begin in early February and continue through March.
Circuit Judge Michael Usan has already begun laying out the ground work for the trial, having already rejected Michael Boatwright's attorney's request to have him declared mentally incompetent to stand trial, and his request to have all three suspects tried separately.
This Wednesday (18 January), jury selection for the trail began.
XXXTentacion was up-and-coming on the hip hop scene around the time of his death, with his tracks 'Sad!' and 'Don't Cry' reaching the top ten on the Billboard Charts.
He had developed a strong cult following thanks to his lyrics about depression, mental anguish, and vulnerability.
A fourth suspect, Robert Allen, 26, who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a plea deal last year, is set to testify against the three men in the upcoming trial.
The trial in Fort Lauderdale is expected to begin in early February and continue through March.
Circuit Judge Michael Usan has already begun laying out the ground work for the trial, having already rejected Michael Boatwright's attorney's request to have him declared mentally incompetent to stand trial, and his request to have all three suspects tried separately.
This Wednesday (18 January), jury selection for the trail began.
XXXTentacion was up-and-coming on the hip hop scene around the time of his death, with his tracks 'Sad!' and 'Don't Cry' reaching the top ten on the Billboard Charts.
He had developed a strong cult following thanks to his lyrics about depression, mental anguish, and vulnerability.
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Storms Media Group / Alamy Stock Photo
Unfortunately, his successful career had been overshadowed by reports of his violent behaviour.
The rapper had been up against 15 felony charges at the time of his death, including counts of false imprisonment, aggravated battery of a pregnant woman and domestic battery by strangulation, for alleged incidents involving his ex-girlfriend in 2016.
In May 2018, he became one of the few artists to be temporarily banned from Spotify's in-house playlists due to its policy of not promoting artists with a history of alleged hateful conduct.Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock
Topics: Music, Celebrity
Freddie Mercury's Brave Public Statement Just 24 Hours Before His Death
The Queen frontman passed away due to AIDS-related complications in 1991
Unfortunately, his successful career had been overshadowed by reports of his violent behaviour.
The rapper had been up against 15 felony charges at the time of his death, including counts of false imprisonment, aggravated battery of a pregnant woman and domestic battery by strangulation, for alleged incidents involving his ex-girlfriend in 2016.
In May 2018, he became one of the few artists to be temporarily banned from Spotify's in-house playlists due to its policy of not promoting artists with a history of alleged hateful conduct.Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock
Topics: Music, Celebrity
Freddie Mercury's Brave Public Statement Just 24 Hours Before His Death
The Queen frontman passed away due to AIDS-related complications in 1991
Queen frontman Freddie Mercury passed away on 24 November, 1991 after being diagnosed with AIDS, but it wasn't until just hours before his death that he shared the news of his illness with the world.
The singer, who died when he was 45 years old, remains an icon to this day after helping to bring the world legendary songs such as 'Bohemian Rhapsody', 'Don't Stop Me Now' and 'We Are The Champions'.
His story was told to a new generation recently in the form of the 2018 film Bohemian Rhapsody, in which we saw Rami Malek portray Mercury from Queen's inception through to the singer's diagnosis with AIDS.
The singer, who died when he was 45 years old, remains an icon to this day after helping to bring the world legendary songs such as 'Bohemian Rhapsody', 'Don't Stop Me Now' and 'We Are The Champions'.
His story was told to a new generation recently in the form of the 2018 film Bohemian Rhapsody, in which we saw Rami Malek portray Mercury from Queen's inception through to the singer's diagnosis with AIDS.
Alamy
Mercury is said to have been diagnosed with AIDS in 1987, but he continued to record tracks with Queen and chose not to speak publicly about his illness for years.
Peter Freestone, who lived with and worked for Mercury in his Kensington home, Garden Lodge, explained the singer had a 'plan' to make an announcement about his condition before he died.
Freestone has previously described himself as 'Freddie's chief cook and bottle washer, waiter, butler, secretary, cleaner and agony aunt'.
He recalled travelling the world with him and being with him during the highs and lows, and explained that Mercury made a decision to stop his medication after returning from a trip to Switzerland on 10 November, 1991.
"It obviously passed through his mind to make the statement," Freestone said.
"He made all his arrangements...I think he just felt and knew it was his time,"
Mercury is said to have been diagnosed with AIDS in 1987, but he continued to record tracks with Queen and chose not to speak publicly about his illness for years.
Peter Freestone, who lived with and worked for Mercury in his Kensington home, Garden Lodge, explained the singer had a 'plan' to make an announcement about his condition before he died.
Freestone has previously described himself as 'Freddie's chief cook and bottle washer, waiter, butler, secretary, cleaner and agony aunt'.
He recalled travelling the world with him and being with him during the highs and lows, and explained that Mercury made a decision to stop his medication after returning from a trip to Switzerland on 10 November, 1991.
"It obviously passed through his mind to make the statement," Freestone said.
"He made all his arrangements...I think he just felt and knew it was his time,"
Alamy
The statement was released on what was 23 November in the UK, 22 November in the US, and saw Mercury address speculation about his health that had been circulating in the media.
It read: "Following the enormous conjecture in the press over the last two weeks, I wish to confirm that I have been tested HIV positive and have AIDS.
“I felt it correct to keep this information private to date to protect the privacy of those around me.
"However, the time has come now for my friends and fans around the world to know the truth and I hope that everyone will join with me, my doctors and all those worldwide in the fight against this terrible disease.”
Mercury concluded: "My privacy has always been very special to me and I am famous for my lack of interviews.
"Please understand this policy will continue."
Just one day later, on 24 November, Mercury died from Aids-related complications at his home in Kensington.
Despite that, his legacy endures to this day.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677 Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock
Topics: Music, Health, Entertainment, Celebrity
The statement was released on what was 23 November in the UK, 22 November in the US, and saw Mercury address speculation about his health that had been circulating in the media.
It read: "Following the enormous conjecture in the press over the last two weeks, I wish to confirm that I have been tested HIV positive and have AIDS.
“I felt it correct to keep this information private to date to protect the privacy of those around me.
"However, the time has come now for my friends and fans around the world to know the truth and I hope that everyone will join with me, my doctors and all those worldwide in the fight against this terrible disease.”
Mercury concluded: "My privacy has always been very special to me and I am famous for my lack of interviews.
"Please understand this policy will continue."
Just one day later, on 24 November, Mercury died from Aids-related complications at his home in Kensington.
Despite that, his legacy endures to this day.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677 Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock
Topics: Music, Health, Entertainment, Celebrity
