John Lennon's lover May Pang recalls her last interaction with Yoko

‘It was BIZARRE’: John Lennon’s lover May Pang recalls the VERY awkward encounter she had with his widow Yoko Ono in an Iceland hotel – 30 years after enjoying affair with the Beatle during his infamous Lost Weekend

• Pang became Lennon’s lover aged 23 – while he was still married to Ono
• Ono eventually won Lennon back but Pang secretly continued her love affair
• Former PA lays the truth of their romance bare in new doc, The Lost Weekend

John Lennon’s lover May Pang has revealed the incredibly uncomfortable and ‘bizarre’ interaction she had with his widow, Yoko Ono, 30 years after the couple’s former assistant enjoyed an 18-month affair the with the late Beatle.

The 72-year-old explained on Wednesday evening that she has only had one awkward conversation in 2006 with her former employer since Lennon was tragically murdered in New York City in December 1980.

It comes as Ono and Lennon’s former live-in assistant has detailed the full story of her romance with the iconic British musician in her new documentary, The Lost Weekend: A Love Story.

In the film, the music producer dispels the myth that Ono had control over the affair, and also claimed that the Beatle icon still maintained a sexual relationship with her right until his death.

Blast from the past: John Lennon’s lover May Pang, picture left in 2022, has revealed the last interaction she had with his widow, Yoko Ono, in 2006, pictured right in 2016

Famous love: The iconic couple’s former assistant enjoyed an 18-month affair the with the late Beatle during a romance that took place between 1973 and 1975- pictured in 1974 

Speaking to fans after a screening of the movie at New York’s Angelika Film Center, Pang explained that her attempts to connect with Ono had been rebuffed by the outspoken activist.

‘Yoko would never pick up my phone calls so [the chance of us being friends] goes out the window,’ Pang stated.

She then went on to explain that she had a chance encounter with Ono in 2006 while making a stopover in Iceland for a trip to mark Lennon’s 66th birthday.

‘I was doing a trip with Iceland Air. The end place was going to be in Liverpool,’ she explained. ‘You got to be on the plane with me and we had to make a stopover in Reykjavik’.

As she was being taken to her hotel for the night, it was revealed that Ono was also staying in the property.

‘I wrote out a note when I got there and I sent it up but got no answer,’ Pang continued.

However, it was during breakfast the next morning that she came face to face with her love rival.

She recalled: ‘I’m looking over and there she is… Yoko’s looking over the table of food. She got her assistant holding one plate of food, and another assistant doing something else.’

Tension: Pang claims she has only had one awkward conversation with her former employer since Lennon was tragically murdered in New York City – Lennon and Ono pictured in 1973 

Happier times: A photo of the then 23-year-old Pang with Beatle John Lennon in March 1974 

She continued: ‘I go over to her and said her name. She turns one way. Again I said, “Yoko”, and she looks another way. 

‘Then I say “Yoko”, so she finally looked at me. It was like the third time.’

When Pang stated that she wanted to wish her former employer well on her project at the time, the simple reply she received was: ‘Thank you’.

‘I said, “Good luck”, and I turned around and went back to my seat,’ Pang laughed.

However, the morning took a slight turn moments later as she continued: ‘I started eating and then I started to notice something of the corner of my eyes… I see her wandering around I said, “I think she’s looking for me”.  I just had a feeling.’

Pang recalled: ‘She stands at the edge and she starts waving at me. So I waved back.

‘Yoko then mouths, “How are you?”. So I said, “I’m fine” and I look down and eat and focus on my food. It was bizarre.’

Pang explained that the interaction may have been Ono’s attempt at a true conversation as she mused: ‘It’s what I call take two… because the whole restaurant was full of the press, everybody else was there and you could hear pin drop.

‘I think it didn’t make a good impression when I approached her the first time and  when everybody’s looking. This “Hi, how are you?” was when the friendly side came out.’

She added: ‘She was nice as I was leaving. When I finish eating, she was still waving and smiling.’

Pang also revealed that there has been a time afterwards when she, Ono, Lennon’s first wife Cynthia had all been in a room together for the first time – to celebrate the first gallery exhibit of the late Beatle’s son, Julian.

Sharing her story: Pang, 72, released her new documentary The Lost Weekend on April 13

Famous kiss: Lennon and Pang kissing passionately at the Troubadour in 1974; the image made their romance known to the public at the time

Due to the no-camera policy on the night, no-one ever managed to capture a picture of Lennon’s lovers together (Lennon’s once rumored fling Pattie Boyd was also in attendance).

Lennon and Ono separated from 1973 to 1975 with the latter encouraging the Beatle to begin a relationship with his much younger live-in employee because she could tell the music icon was starting to be unfaithful.

Pang, who was then only 23, had been working as the couple’s personal secretary before she fell head over heels with Lennon.

Recalling how the affair started in the documentary, Pang says she cried when she first had sex with the Beatle because she ‘didn’t know where it was going to lead.’ 

They famously flew to Los Angeles for a weekend, only to spend a longer chunk of time there hanging out with other rock royalty such as Harry Nilsson, Ringo Starr and Mick Jagger.

Pang recalled times when she’d be part of an impromptu jam session with his former Beatles bandmates Paul McCartney and George Harrison.

She recalled in the documentary: ‘George once said, “I’m so happy you’re with John,” and that was a nice thing of him to say to me.’

The unconventional couple moved in together in New York in 1974 and continued to enjoy life on both coasts. 

Complicated relationship: Ono and Lennon reconciled amid their hiatus during the mid 1970s’ – pictured at their home in England in 1968

No closure: Though Lennon and Ono reconciled, he continued to see Pang romantically until his death in 1980 – pictured together in the 1970s

Ono remained present in Lennon’s life – calling up to 15 times a day, according to Pang said.

At one point during their separation, Ono had asked Lennon for a divorce, which he agreed to. The legal separation, however, never happened because Ono was taken aback by his willingness to permanently part and the couple reconciled.

Ono’s surprise was the impetus to end the so-called ‘lost weekend’ and get her husband back.

Pang said she ‘knew’ their relationship was over when Lennon, at the encouraging of Ono, went to a hypnotist to stop smoking.

‘You just know,’ Pang stated. ‘He was not the same when I saw him [again].’

Despite Lennon and Ono reuniting, Pang said she still continued seeing him romantically over the next five years. 

The couple were still quietly together until Lennon’s unexpected death in 1980 when he was shot by deranged fan, Mark David Chapman. 

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