Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney has taken aim at modern influencer culture, admitting he is baffled by how people who “don’t seem to be particularly talented” can attract billions of views and achieve global fame almost overnight.
The 83-year-old reflected on celebrity in the social media era during an appearance on “The Rest Is Entertainment,” the British podcast hosted by television producer and author Richard Osman and journalist Marina Hyde.
When asked which aspects of modern society puzzle him, McCartney pointed to influencer culture.
“I think a lot of this influencer stuff — I just don’t really get it, because I’m not that generation,” McCartney told Osman and Hyde. “But I see it, you can’t help it. My wife will be looking at Instagram and showing me something and then one of those will come on. I think it’s funny — and I suppose it always happened — but people who don’t seem to be particularly talented are incredibly famous. Billions of hits and views.”
McCartney understands the new generation
Despite his criticism, McCartney acknowledged the generational gap and poked fun at himself.
“You’ve got to be careful about talking about that, because it makes you sound very old-fashioned. Which I am.”
The self-deprecating remark underscored his awareness that every generation eventually struggles to relate to the cultural trends that follow. His comments drew attention given his status as one of the most successful musicians in history and someone who witnessed the rise of modern celebrity firsthand.
One X user wrote, “I guess what he doesn’t get is the concept of an influencer who doesn’t do anything but ‘influence.’ The thing is, THEY existed in the ’60s too! H***, there’s a scene in Hard Day’s Night that talks about one of them.”
But, HE was a major influencer in the 60s! (heehee)
I guess what he doesn't get is the concept of an influencer who doesn't do anything but "influence." The thing is, THEY existed in the 60s too! Hell, there's a scene in Hard Day's Night that talks about one of them.
— Ken Scott (@foomper) May 14, 2026
McCartney comes from an era of earned fame
A source told RadarOnline that McCartney has difficulty understanding how internet fame can rival traditional artistic achievement.
“Paul comes from a generation where becoming famous usually meant years of hard work, touring, songwriting and proving yourself creatively,” the source said. “He genuinely finds it strange that people can now become global celebrities through algorithms, viral videos or simply documenting their daily lives online.”
A second source said the musician is not hostile toward younger generations but believes modern fame often prioritizes visibility over skill.
“He is not trying to attack younger people personally, but he does feel modern fame often prioritizes visibility over talent,” the source said. “At the same time, he recognizes the world has changed and that every older generation eventually reaches a point where popular culture stops making complete sense to them.”
How Beatlemania compares to today’s fame culture
McCartney contrasted the era of Beatlemania with today’s algorithm-driven celebrity culture.
Reflecting on how many modern stars describe fame as a burden, he said his generation viewed it very differently.
“I think the big difference is in yourself. When you’re first famous, you love it — because it’s what you were trying to achieve. So something goes well, people in the street recognize you and you love it. There was none of this, ‘Oh, people are bothering me’ — that’s a modern affliction. We loved it. And you learn to deal with it.”
For McCartney, fame in the 1960s was the reward for years of dedication. The Beatles honed their art during marathon residencies in Hamburg, Germany, often performing for up to eight hours a night before breaking through in Britain.
Why McCartney says no to fan photos
One of the most notable revelations from the podcast was McCartney’s explanation for why he almost always declines selfie requests from fans, a stance he described as “radical these days.”
McCartney said, “Now — phones. So if I meet someone, they’re reaching for their phone and I say, ‘I’m sorry, I don’t do pictures,’ and that is radical these days.”
He recalled discussing the issue with Oprah Winfrey.
“I told that to Oprah — I’m name-dropping now — and she said, ‘You don’t do pictures?’ I said, ‘No.’ She said, ‘Why?’ I said, ‘I don’t want to.’ It’s as simple as that.”
McCartney said the reasoning goes beyond inconvenience. He explained that posing for photos can take away the sense of normalcy he has worked to maintain throughout his life.
