Yoko Ono Hospitalized After Bout with Flu, Not Stroke
Yoko Ono has been hospitalized tonight (Feb. 26), apparently after suffering a bout of the flu.
Initial reports said the widow and former musical partner of the Beatles' John Lennon possibly had a stroke – and that she was reportedly unconscious when she was taken from her New York City home. Both son Sean Lennon and spokesman Elliot Mintz later confirmed that Ono had not suffered a stroke, but instead was battling a stubborn bug.
"Hey, guys it was only rumors from press: was NOT a stroke, just dehydration/tired," the younger Lennon said via Twitter. "She is FINE. Thank you everyone for your concern."
Mintz went into further detail on Ono's medical situation. "To the best of my knowledge, she had symptoms along the lines of a serious flu," he said, in a statement. "There is no stroke and there are no life threatening circumstances." He added that she was only hospitalized on doctor's advice, and that someone present with Ono tonight told him she was "okay, and she should be home tomorrow (Feb. 27)."
It was not immediately clear if she was alone when first responders arrived. Ono, who just turned 83, has lived in the Dakota at the corner of 72nd Street and Central Park West since 1973. She was taken from there by ambulance to Mount Sinai West, formerly known as St. Luke's Roosevelt; that's the hospital where Lennon died after being shot in front of their apartment building in 1980.
The couple founded the Plastic Ono Band together in 1969 – the same year they were married. In total, Lennon and Ono recorded six studio albums together, most notably the triple-platinum Double Fantasy. More recently, Ono revived the group, memorably performing last October during the Modern Sky Festival at Central Park.
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