LONDON (Reuters) - Julian Lennon denied knowledge of a much-hyped sibling rivalry between him and John Lennon`s second son Sean as both pop stars released new albums on Monday. The coincidence of the half-brothers releasing their records on the same day has sparked media speculation about a life-long rift between the offspring of the legendary Beatles pop star. "It`s news to me. I love Sean to death. He`s a smart kid. But I do think there are things done without his knowledge," Julian Lennon told the Daily Telegraph in an interview published on Monday. Lennon said someone in the New York-based "camp" controlled by Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon`s mother and John Lennon`s widow, could be "manipulating events". "She wants to make sure Sean`s OK, whatever it takes," he added. The 35-year-old said his new album "Photograph Smile" was dedicated to his step-father Roberto Bassanini, who was "more of a father to [him] than anyone". Lennon said John Lennon, who divorced his first wife Cynthia in 1968 to live with Yoko Ono, had offered little in the way of paternal love, in spite of his peace activism . "I felt he was a hypocrite. Dad could talk about peace and love out loud to the world but he could never show it to the people who supposedly meant the most to him: his wife and son," he said. "How can you talk about peace and love and have a family in bits and pieces - no communication, adultery, divorce? You can`t do it, not if you`re being true and honest with yourself." Sean Lennon, 22, released his album "Into the Sun" on Monday in what his record label says was pure coincidence.