Ex-Beatle McCartney hits back at slurs against wife
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-02-06 08:51

Former Beatle Paul McCartney broke a long silence over media criticism of his new wife, Heather, issuing a damning condemnation of "scurrilous reports" which had wounded both of them intensely.

Musician Paul McCartney and wife Heather Mills during charity event. McCartney broke a long silence over media criticism of his new wife, Heather, issuing a damning condemnation of 'scurrilous reports' which had wounded both of them intensely. [AFP]

"It hurts me to see her wounded by these scurrilous reports, and not have anyone to put the record straight," he said on comments posted on his wife's Internet site (heathermillsmccartney.com).

McCartney, 62, met the 36-year-old model-turned-charity campaigner in 1999, and they married in 2002, with Mills having a child the next year.

The pair met soon after the death of McCartney's first wife, Linda, and Mills has faced a more or less constant campaign of rumour and whispering about both her personal life and her influence over the ex-Beatle.

Among reports which have made it into newspapers are that she has fallen out badly with McCartney's children from his first marriage, and that she has persuaded him to dye his hair or have plastic surgery.

McCartney dismissed reports of a rift with his children, saying they all "get on great" with Mills, who became a an anti-land mine campaigner after losing part of a leg when she was struck by a motorbike in 1993.

Among the most shocking accusations, McCartney said, was that "losing a leg was perhaps the best thing that ever happened to Heather as it fed her desire for self publicity".

"Imagine losing a leg, and dealing with it as bravely as Heather has done and having to read that on top of it!" he said, in comments posted on the website under the title "A Note From Paul".

"She was reported to always be clinging to me, the inference being that she was too possessive.

"Never mind the fact that I love her holding my arm, the real truth is that often the surface of a floor or pavement can be dangerous for an amputee to walk on, and a little help from a friend can sometimes be appreciated."

McCartney conceded that he dyed his hair, but said he had "engaged in this devilish practice years before I met her", something that had been pursued "with varying degrees of success".

There were so many false rumours that "it is impossible to answer them all", McCartney wrote.

"I only hope that these words of mine help genuine people to get a clearer view of the realities of our lives, and encourage them to think for themselves, and not give credence to words by people who simply dont care about the truth.

Close

Plum blossoms welcome the rooster 'Lord of Misrule' kicks off Brazil's Rio carnival Fashion show in Barcelona

Today's Top News     Top Life News
China refuses to set time-table on currency change         China could be world's No. 3 auto producer         All 104 aboard Afghan jet believed dead         Direct flights a hit with New Year passengers         China to attract more foreign experts: Premier         Nine dead in Japan, apparent group suicide	Ex-Beatle McCartney hits back at slurs against wife       Weigh in to pay, young diners told       Canadian-Chinese girl lured by Internet evil cult       Hollywood imports Penelope Cruz, Zhang Ziyi at Oscars       Nine found dead in Japan in group suicides       Shanghai ponders limits on marriages to avoid rush