Bono Finds Peace and Pop Culture After Health Scares
After decades of commanding stadiums with U2, Bono is now taking comfort in streaming and slow TV. In a revealing Esquire cover story, the 65-year-old rock legend shared how a near-fatal health scare led to an unexpected change in pace—and taste.
Following a 2016 open-heart surgery to correct a dangerous aortic aneurysm, Bono says he began embracing the quieter joys of life, including binge-worthy television. What began as a skeptical suggestion turned into a full-blown obsession with Netflix’s Chef’s Table. He cited the episodes featuring Francis Mallmann, Jeong Kwan, and Evan Funke as personal favorites.
His daughters helped shape his new screen habits. Jordan introduced him to Fleabag, while actress Eve Hewson brought The Kardashians into the mix. Bono even confessed to watching Love Island—because, why not?
Reflecting on his surgery, Bono expressed gratitude and even noted that his singing improved post-op: “I started to realize I had just been shouting for a living.”
With his AppleTV+ documentary Bono: Stories of Surrender dropping May 30, the frontman is opening up like never before—about mortality, music, and the healing power of a good binge.
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Photo Credit: Frederic Legrand – COMEO / Shutterstock.com
