July 19, 2016

What sounds like a tweet from Kanye West was actually a controversial remark made by the Beatles' John Lennon in 1966. Lennon said that Christianity was in decline and that the Beatles had become more popular than Jesus Christ. The comment drew no controversy when originally published in the United Kingdom, but angry reactions flared up when it was republished in the United States five months later. Some radio stations stopped playing Beatles songs, their records were publicly burned, press conferences were cancelled, and threats were made. Known as the "bigger than Jesus" controversy, the scandal ultimately influenced the band's decision to never tour again.