Yoko Ono goes on rant during press conference

[mrs.v]

JOHN LENNON's widow YOKO ONO launched into a vicious rant during a press conference after a reporter asked why she's still living in the apartment block where the BEATLES legend was murdered.

The singer/artist held a junket in Los Angeles on Thursday (12 Aug 10) to promote a new TV documentary about her late husband.

But she pounced on one journalist who questioned why she still lives in The Dakota building in New York 30 years after Lennon was shot at the entrance to the apartment block by Mark Chapman.

She shouted, "I think people say, 'Why are you still living on Dakota?' You know, I think it is a slightly racist remark, and maybe sexist, too. Because I'm sure that many people are living in their own home, that he or she shared with their spouses, even after the spouse has passed away. Especially because they passed away. Because there's a lot of memories, and also you built the place with the spouse. I'm not going to leave that and go to some strange house."

And despite the press conference moving on, Ono refused to let the red-faced reporter off the hook.

She added, "Wait a second. I want to answer more fully about what he said, because that's sexist and racist. The thing is... when somebody like me, who is probably not part of your culture, how you think, 'Why she still living there? We wouldn't live there. Well, maybe because she has a different tradition and she doesn't care about the fact that he died there.' You know, something like that. A little bit more barbaric or something.

"The other thing is, for you to be able to say something like that, 'How dare she's living there?' (sic) is sexism, because I know that all guys wouldn't care... They would just live in the house, and no one's going to comment. No one's going to comment that you would go to maybe a whorehouse or something like that right after your wife died. 'I'm so sorry. He must be so sad.'"

source

ohnotheydidnt: Yoko Ono Lashes Out At "Racist And Sexist Remark" During Lennon Press Conference

[Grimmlok]

... how the fuck is it sexist and racist? Living in the house where your SO was murdered is fucking weird no matter what sex you are or culture.

[nancydrew]

Its not sexist or racist but other than that I get what she is saying, but she is batshit crazy so maybe thats why I understand it. I speak fluent batshit.

[ConstanceSpry]

Sexist and racist?? Me thinks she's gone off into the deepest part of the deep end.

[sputnik]

this is an unpopular opinion but i like yoko. yeah, she's batshit but i don't think it's that weird to live where your spouse died. because it's not just a place where he/she died, it's also the place you lived together and there are a lot of memories.

[GaPeach]

I didn't get it either.. she threw down the wrong card.. should have just said "I live there because it's my home" shorter and less defensive.

[HWBL]

1. It's nobody's business why or where she lives anywhere, so the reporter's
question may have been understandable from his "reporting mode" perspective,
but it's really a private matter.
2. She overreacted. This would have sufficed: "I'm sure that many people are
living in their own home, that he or she shared with their spouses, even after
the spouse has passed away. Especially because they passed away. Because
there's a lot of memories, and also you built the place with the spouse. I'm not
going to leave that and go to some strange house."

[Zee]

Yoko is an excellent follow on twitter. 90% of her tweets are so bafflingly wonderful for example

Imagine 1000 suns in the sky @ same time. Let them shine for 1hr. Then let them gradually melt into the sky. Make 1 tunafish sandwich & eat.

[SVZ]

Yoko is an excellent follow on twitter. 90% of her tweets are so bafflingly wonderful for example

omfg what is that!?!!?

[landerq]

1. It's nobody's business why or where she lives anywhere, so the reporter's
question may have been understandable from his "reporting mode" perspective,
but it's really a private matter.
2. She overreacted. This would have sufficed: "I'm sure that many people are
living in their own home, that he or she shared with their spouses, even after
the spouse has passed away. Especially because they passed away. Because
there's a lot of memories, and also you built the place with the spouse. I'm not
going to leave that and go to some strange house."

Eloquently put, as always.

I don't think it's at all weird to want to live in there, either. Now, racist/sexist, that is weird. For all the racism and sexism that actually still exists, pulling that card when it doesn't dilutes the issue when it does.

[HWBL]

Eloquently put, as always.

I don't think it's at all weird to want to live in there, either. Now, racist/sexist, that is weird. For all the racism and sexism that actually still exists, pulling that card when it doesn't dilutes the issue when it does.

Thank you! I can't take credit for #2: those were Yoko's own words from
the press conference. She should have left it at that.

[nana51]

He wasn't killed in the house, but out front of the apartment building where they lived. The house has the wonderful memories. Saying that she is still loony and overreacted.

[kalirga]

I love her and think she should invite Courtney Love to move in and be her roommate.

[rollo]

I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and say she got angry and used the wrong words to describe how she was feeling. It's not sexist or racist but it is deeply upsetting to be asked why you live where you live when your husband was murdered outside your front door. It's up to her.

[Sundance]

It's not racist or sexist. The question wasn't unreasonable. Of course Yoko should be able live wherever she wants. She should have answered it in a more reasonable way.

But then again she's batshit crazy. Always was.