Paul McCartney’s daughter Stella McCartney recalled how ‘hurt’ her late mother was by the bullying she faced from fans.
Linda McCartney was a founding member of her husband’s band Wings, which launched in 1971, just a year after he announced he was leaving The Beatles.
McCartney’s wife, a photographer by trade, did not always win over critics as she played keyboard and sang harmony in Wings.
In the new documentary Paul McCartney: Man on the Run, her daughter Stella, 54, discussed the impact the criticism had on her mother, who died of cancer in 1998 at age 56.
‘She wasn’t a cookie-cutter example of someone you put in a band. What they, and she especially, had to go through, like when they isolated her voice and ridiculed her? I mean, it breaks my heart,’ the designer said in the documentary.
‘I know that there was pain there. I knew she hurt. She wasn’t like, cold,’ Stella added.
Paul McCartney’s, 83, daughter Stella McCartney, 54, recalled how ‘hurt’ her late mother Linda McCartney was by the bullying she faced from fans and critics; Stella pictured in 2025
Linda, who died of cancer in 1998 at age 56, was a founding member of her husband’s band Wings, which launched in 1971; Mccartney pictured with Linda and Stella in 1974
Stella added that Linda’s resilience showed ‘her bravery and spirit. That side to her boosted a side that [McCartney] had perhaps lost.’
McCartney, 83, also spoke about some of the criticism he and Linda faced for her inclusion in the band, which he said was an idea that came to him ‘spur of the moment.’
‘”She can’t do this, she can’t sing, she can’t play piano, she can’t do anything. Oh, they’re crazy man, what’s he got his old lady in the band for? Who the hell is this?”‘ the musician recalled people saying.
However McCartney disagreed with the critics, and said Linda’s style of singing gave the songs a ‘special sound.’
Formed in London, the British rock band also featured McCartney on vocals and bass, with Denny Laine on guitar and vocals, and Denny Seiwell on drums.
Wings quietly disbanded in 1981, as McCartney shifted his focus back to his solo career. Their hits include Band on the Run, Live and Let Die, and Jet.
McCartney and Linda married in 1969, and stayed married until her death.
Aside from Stella, they were also parents to daughter Mary, 56, and son James, 48. McCartney also adopted Linda’s daughter Heather, 63, from a previous marriage.
‘What they, and she especially, had to go through, like when they isolated her voice and ridiculed her? I mean, it breaks my heart,’ the designer said in the new documentary Paul McCartney: Man on the Run; McCartney and Linda pictured performing with the band
‘I know that there was pain there. I knew she hurt. She wasn’t like, cold,’ Stella added; McCartney and Linda pictured in 1972
Wings launched just a year after McCartney announced he was leaving The Beatles; (L-R) McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon and George Harrison pictured in 1964
In 1973 Linda spoke about the public’s opinion of her in an interview with NME.
‘I don’t know the public’s idea of me, because it varies so much. Sometimes I hear I intrude, then I hear I don’t come on enough, then I hear I can’t play. I must own up: personally, I don’t get annoyed,’ she said.
‘Just because I married Paul, I’ve become someone people write about, but I don’t care and that’s the truth.’
Man on the Run, directed by Morgan Neville, follows McCartney’s extraordinary life after the breakup of The Beatles and his time as a solo artist and a part of his later band, Wings.
During a screening of the release in London earlier this year, McCartney admitted he felt ’emotional’ upon seeing his late wife Linda in the documentary.
‘Seeing me and Linda interacting is very special because, you know, she is not here anymore. Me and Linda, the kids. The music. Me and John [Lennon].’
‘These memories, it is like a life flashing in front of you. There are so many cool things. Even though there are some embarrassing moments, I come out of it thinking, “Yeah, I’m OK.”‘
‘All the stuff with the kids and Linda is lovely to see. Obviously, it’s emotional because she looks so beautiful. She’s so cool.’
Man on the Run follows McCartney’s extraordinary life after the breakup of The Beatles. The film will be available to steam on Prime Video on February 27
The film will be available to stream on Prime Video on February 27.
McCartney became a household name as the bassist and singer for The Beatles, quickly rising to superstardom during the height of Beatlemania.
He will be played by Paul Mescal in the upcoming Beatles four-part film series from director Sam Mendes.
Meanwhile Harris Dickinson will star as John Lennon, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison. The biopics are scheduled for a simultaneous theatrical release in 2028.
