Disturbing footage has emerged showing Beatles star John Lennon appearing to ridicule disabled people during a gig.

Lennon is seen pulling faces and making exaggerated movements as he asked the crowd to clap during a Beatles performance in 1964.

The shocking footage of a 24-year-old Lennon resurfaced in Channel 4 documentary It Was Alright in the 60s.

Lorainne Bellamy, a spokeswoman for Mencap who has a learning disability, told The Independent that it was ‘shocking and painful to watch’ the clip.

EDITORIAL USE ONLY / NO MERCHANDISING Mandatory Credit: Photo by ITV/REX_Shutterstock (998151gd) 'Late Scene Extra' TV - 1963 - The Beatles - George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon. ITV ARCHIVE
(Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

She said: ‘Times may have changed but I always find it hard to believe how such famous people can have these horrible views about real people…

‘Much has changed but there is still a long way to go before the public realises people with a learning disability have the same hopes, dreams and feelings as anyone else, and should be treated with the same level of respect as anyone.


‘We are not here to be laughed at and I hope that today’s celebrities would never consider acting like this.’

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