John Lennon’s first wife Cynthia died after “a short battle” with cancer at her home in Spain Wednesday. She was 75.
The two married when Cynthia was pregnant in 1963, the same year she gave birth to their son Julian.
Though they divorced after only five years, wedding Cynthia made John the only Beatle to be married when they first became popular. When the group performed on the “Ed Sullivan Show,” a banner in front of John’s face read, “Sorry girls, he’s married.”
During their marriage, Cynthia alleged that John had hit her once because he was “a very jealous young man.”
“He wanted to trust me and he thought by seeing me dancing with a friend of his that I was being disloyal or messing around. So he smacked me, but that was the only time,” she told Billboard.
Julian and Cynthia Lennon. (Photo: Getty Images)
Her son Julian put out a statement about his mother’s death.
“The family are thankful for your prayers. Please respect their privacy at this difficult time.” (RELATED: Paul McCartney’s Ex: I’m More Famous For Owning Vegan Company Than Being Married To A Beatle)