John Lennon & Yoko Ono on Kup’s Show (11 May 1972, Chicago TV Interview)

May 11, 2026

John Lennon & Yoko Ono on Kup's Show, Chicago – 11 May 1972

On Thursday 11 May 1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono appeared on Kup's Show — the long-running Chicago television talk programme hosted by Irv Kupcinet — during one of the most turbulent periods of Lennon's post-Beatles life.

The appearance came at the height of the Nixon administration's attempts to deport Lennon from the United States, a campaign widely seen as politically motivated due to Lennon's outspoken anti-war activism and his association with left-wing figures in New York.

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The Deportation Battle

In March 1972, the US Immigration and Naturalisation Service had ordered Lennon to leave the country within 60 days, citing a 1968 cannabis conviction in the UK. Lennon and his legal team — and many supporters — argued the deportation proceedings were a direct response to his political activities rather than a genuine immigration concern.

The fight to remain in the United States would continue for several years, ultimately concluding in Lennon's favour when he was granted a green card in July 1976.

Kup's Show – A Chicago Institution

Kup's Show was hosted by Irv Kupcinet, one of Chicago's most celebrated journalists and broadcasters. The programme ran from 1959 to 1986 and was known for its wide-ranging, intellectually engaged conversations with major cultural and political figures.

Lennon and Yoko's appearance on 11 May 1972 was broadcast from the Merchandise Mart in Chicago — one of the largest commercial buildings in the world and a landmark of the city's media landscape.

Lennon's Political Activism in 1972

By 1972, John Lennon had become one of the most prominent anti-war voices in America. His album Some Time in New York City, released in June 1972, addressed issues including the Vietnam War, women's rights and the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Television appearances like Kup's Show were part of a deliberate strategy by Lennon and Yoko to maintain their public profile and build support during the deportation battle. They were acutely aware that public sympathy was one of their most powerful tools.

Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr were each pursuing their own solo careers during this period, with The Beatles' breakup now two years in the past.

Legacy

The Kup's Show appearance is one of many documented moments from Lennon's early 1970s activism that illustrate his transformation from pop star to political figure. His willingness to use media platforms to speak directly to the public on issues of war, justice and civil liberties remains one of the defining aspects of his post-Beatles legacy.

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