Singer Don McLean Tweets Love for Jews Amid Allegations of Antisemitism From Soon-to-Be Ex-Wife
by Shiryn Ghermezian
Famous American singer-songwriter Don McLean took to Twitter on Monday to fire back against antisemitism allegations from his estranged spouse, the New York Post‘s Page Six reported.
“Among the many lies told about me by my soon-to-be ex-wife . . . is the statement that 24 years ago I made an antisemetic remark.” the “American Pie” singer, 70, tweeted. “This is false given the facts. I was married for almost 30 years to a Jewish woman, who I worshiped. I was proud to have 2 Jewish children.”
McLean tried to reassure the public that he is a “staunch supporter” of Israel. He said on Twitter, “I wrote the song ‘Jerusalem’ for [former mayor of Jerusalem] Teddy Kollek and made a film about that city for him. I did many tours of Israel during the Iran-Iraq War.” He added that he also “lived with an Israeli girl who was in the army at that time.”
Don was arrested in January and charged with domestic violence against his wife Patricia McLean, who secured a restraining order after his arrest. She claimed in court documents that her husband had called her antisemitic names at the beginning of their 30-year marriage.
“My husband has/had a violent temper,” Patrisha said. “For the first 10 years or so his rage was unfathomably deep and very scary — calling me horrible things like ‘hebe’ (I’m Jewish).”
At the time, Don’s defense attorney dismissed Patrisha’s statements, saying, “Don denies making any ethnic slurs to his wife. As with many of the statements made in the request for a protection order, this statement is patently untrue.”
Patrisha cited “adultery, cruel and abusive treatment, and irreconcilable differences” as reasons for the couple’s divorce. Commenting on this on Twitter on Friday, Don wrote, “My wife has chosen divorce. She has chosen to characterize our 30-year relationship in a completely distorted and untrue manner.”