'American Pie' singer Don McLean (YouTube screenshot)
“American Pie” singer Don McLean has denied allegations from his “soon-to-be ex-wife” that he called her an anti-Semitic slur.
“Among the many lies told about me by my soon to be ex-wife Patricia is the statement that 24 years ago I made an anti-semetic [sic] remark,” McLean wrote Monday on Twitter, misspelling his wife’s name, Patrisha.
“This is false given the facts. I was married for almost 30 years to a Jewish woman who I worshiped [sic]. I was proud to have 2 Jewish children.”
The 70-year-old rock star also noted that he had written a song called “Jerusalem” and is a “staunch supporter of Israel.”
This file photo taken on April 26, 2014 shows US musician Don McLean (L) backstage with his wife Patrisha during day 2 of the 2014 Stagecoach: California’s Country Music Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. (AFP / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Frazer Harrison)
“I wrote the song Jerusalem for [former Jerusalem mayor] Teddy Kollek and made a film about that city for him,” McLean tweeted. “I did many tours of Israel during the Iran Iraq War and lived with an Israeli girl who was in the army at that time. I am a staunch supporter of Israel then and now.”
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McLean was arrested for domestic abuse in January for allegedly trying to strangle his wife. Patrisha McLean wrote in a declaration filed in a Rockland County district court that he had displayed anger issues and anti-Semitism in the past.
“For the first 10 years or so his rage was unfathomably deep and very scary — calling me horrible things like ‘hebe,’” she wrote, according to the New York Post.
Patrisha McLean had a restraining order against McLean the day after his arrest.
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The singer’s lawyer has called Patrisha McLean’s accusations false.
“Don denies making any ethnic slurs to his wife,” attorney Walter McKee said.
“American Pie,” which McLean wrote and sang, was No. 1 for four weeks in 1972 and has gained iconic status.
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