A bonfire orginized in Waycross, Georgia by the WAYX radio station in protest of John Lennon's 'more popular than Jesus' statement.

Public Reaction

People across America were outraged. The first radio station to ban Beatles music from their station was WAQY-AM in Birmingham, AL, and many more soon followed. Beatles records were burned in giant public bonfires in protest of John Lennon's statement. Several former Beatles fans sent John Lennon and the other death threats. The Ku Klux Klan even got involved. They nailed Beatles records to crosses and set them on fire.  One priest said that he would excommunicate and member of his church if they listened to Beatles music. John was feeling the consequences of his religious observation. With their upcoming American tour imperiled, it was obvious that it was time for John to apologize.