Paul McCartney has admitted that influencer culture leaves him puzzled, saying in a new podcast interview that he simply does not understand how it works. Speaking on The Rest Is Entertainment, the 83-year-old said, “I think a lot of this influencer stuff – I just don’t really get it, because I’m not that generation,” adding that he still ends up seeing it because his wife shows him Instagram clips.
McCartney’s comments came as he prepares for the release of his new album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, due out on May 29, 2026. The article notes that while he is engaging with newer media like podcasts, listeners should not expect him to be making TikToks or “Get Ready With Me” videos anytime soon.
He went on to say that what confuses him most is how some people become hugely famous without what he sees as obvious traditional talent. “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,” he said.
McCartney did add a warning to himself about sounding old-fashioned, saying, “You’ve got to be careful about saying that, because it makes you sound very old-fashioned,” before adding, “Which I am.” That self-awareness gives the remarks a softer edge, even though the message itself is blunt.
He then contrasted modern fame with the drive that pushed him and his generation forward. McCartney said that when he and his bandmates started out, they were looking for “approval” and “money” as a way to rise out of their circumstances, adding that those ambitions are nothing to be ashamed of.
The interview also offered a more personal side of McCartney. He said his own family background helped keep him grounded, noting that he came from “a very loving family of very smart working-class people.” He also said he tries not to dwell too much on his own fame, explaining, “If I really sat and thought about it – my head would explode,” and adding that he does not feel like “the famous one,” but rather “the guy who just has to go up and have breakfast.”
The result is a typically McCartney mix of wit, humility, and plainspoken skepticism. He is not attacking younger generations outright; he is saying he does not understand a culture that can make someone famous for seemingly little more than visibility, clicks, and attention.
