Yoko Ono's health battles and life now as family say she's living out final days
Legendary artist and widow of John Lennon, Yoko Ono is now 92-years-old and living a quiet life away from the spotlight after reports she had suffered a series of health battles
Yoko Ono is "in a happy place" living out her final days, say her family. The iconic artist and widow of John Lennon is focused on “listening to the wind and watching the sky” as her family have shared an update on her life now.
At the age of 92, Yoko has become a reclusive figure and lives on a 600 acre farm in upstate New York with son Sean and daughter Kyoko visiting regularly. In recent years, Yoko has taken a step away from the public eye and stopped giving interviews on her extraordinary life.
Back in 2016, there were rumours Yoko had suffered a stroke. Her son Sean was quick to set the record straight, yet Yoko has remained mainly out of the spotlight since. Here is a look at where Yoko is now and the reason behind her embracing a quiet life...
Retreat from the public eye
In 2020, the Mirror revealed Yoko appeared to have stopped working completely and has handed many of her business interests over to her son Sean. He was appointed a director at eight companies linked to Yoko and the Beatles including Apple Corp.
One of her last public appearances was in 2017 when the National Music Publishers’ Association presented Yoko Ono with their Centennial Song Award. On Stage she said: Thank you. “I’ve learned so much from having this illness. I’m thankful I went through that,” but did not specify what illness she had suffered with.
It was also noticeable on the anniversary of what would have been John's 80th birthday in October 2020, when Yoko only marked the date with a single tweeted video where she appeared to be reading from a script. She did no interviews and did no appearances despite such a major landmark.
A report in the New York Post back in July 2020 suggested she needs a wheelchair much of the time to move around and is getting round-the-clock care as she moves into old age. “She has definitely slowed down, like anyone at that age,” said Elliot Mintz, a close family friend at the time.
Mintz also mentioned that Yoko did have an 87th birthday party in February that year but did not take to the stage to sing with son Sean as she had done in previous years. Four years later, Yoko sadly did not feel well enough to attend a Tate Modern retrospective of her work in London last year which was a huge success.
Health battles
In 2016, it was rumoured Yoko had a stroke just before her 83rd birthday as she was hospitalised. Friend Elliot and son Sean attempted to correct the false reports.
Sean urged: "Hey guys it was only rumours from press: was NOT a stroke, just dehydration/tired. She is FINE." He later posted: "Only stroke @yokoono had was a Stroke of Genius! She's really fine. Thanks for all the well wishes! Big love, Sean."
Elliot revealed Yoko had suffered flu-like symptoms, but she appeared frailer when she went out in public since. A new book released this week, Yoko by David Sheff, has detailed Yoko's retreat from the public spotlight.
Six months after her hospital stay, Yoko attended Sean's concert at Irving Plaza in New York City. She was helped on stage by an assistant and was handed a microphone. Yoko is said to have "let loose" while the band played the Primus song Southbound Pachyderm.
In 2016, Yoko made a rare public appearance with Dane Worthington, a caretaker who had become Sean's nanny and later assistant. He escorted her to Strawberry Fields where she insisted on walking. However, Yoko appeared shaky and weak as they took breaks on benches while making their way slowly.
A year later, Yoko was photographed visiting again but this time in a wheelchair and accompanied by an assistant, an aide and security.
Yoko has since stopped granting interviews and her family want to protect her privacy in her twilight years. They have declined to comment on her health.
Yoko's peaceful life now
Paying tribute to her mother in the book, daughter Kyoko revealed how her famous mum is enjoying a quiet life. She said: “She believed she could change the world, and she did…now she is able to be quiet - listen to the wind and watch the sky.”
The woman who spent her life advocating peace has now seemingly found some herself. Kyoko added: “She is very happy, in a happy place. This is well deserved and genuine peacefulness.”
Sean, who is now in charge of the families interests in the Beatles estate, praised his mother as he said: “She had this ability to overcome difficulty with positive thinking. She really wanted to teach the world to do that. She taught my dad to do that. It’s not going to stop a moving train or a bullet. But I think there’s something profound about it. And I think it affected the world.”
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