It wasn't always blissful for John Lennon and Yoko Ono during their marriage. The late music icon's former assistant claims that the couple had began their divorce proceedings five years before his death.

May Pang, who was under Lennon's employment from 1974 to 1975, reveals that they had dated with Ono's approval and encouragement because the couple were hitting a rough road in their marriage.

Pang said they had spent time in Los Angeles and New York, which the Beatles legend described as his "lost weekend."

She says, "We had just returned to New York from Los Angeles and she asked for a divorce and he said 'yes.' She wanted a party to announce it. John was very laid back. He said, 'Do whatever you want. Whatever makes it easy.'"

The former aide claims Lennon grew frustrated when Ono kept delaying the divorce. She says, "It got so complicated that he said, 'Let's get the f**king divorce over with.' Then we didn't hear about it. And then she told him, 'The stars aren't right, right now.' Maybe in her mind, she thought he wasn't going to go through with it. 'Let's test him.'"

Pang is currently promoting a book of intimate photos she took during her affair with the musician. Lennon was shot to death on December 8, 1980 in front of his home.