Video: 'The Beatles, John Lennon and the More Popular Than Jesus Controversy (1966)' (Aug. 5, 1966 at 5:26)

(Friday, August 5, 1966, afternoon EDT) — Brian Epstein, manager of The Beatles, held a news conference this afternoon at the Americana Hotel in New York City, hoping to quell a public relations storm following a quote by John Lennon claiming the band was “more popular than Jesus” (click here and here to watch extended clips of Epstein’s news conference).

Epstein said the Lennon quote in a British newspaper had been “represented entirely out of context” by teen magazine Datebook.

Video: 'Brain Epstein Interview New York, NY - August 5, 1966'