In an interview with Maureen Cleave, Lennon had said that Christianity was dying and that The Beatles were "more popular than Jesus now". Afterwards, a radio station in Alabama ran a story on burning Beatles records, in what was considered to be a joke.

However, many took the suggestion seriously and burnt the band's records in protest. Making light of the incident, Harrison said: "They've got to buy them before they can burn them." Lennon apologised for his remarks at a press conference in Chicago.