What started as a well-meaning tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne quickly turned into one of the most cringe-worthy moments on the summer tour circuit — and fans aren’t holding back.
At his recent concerts, Rod Stewart has been dedicating the song “Forever Young” to Ozzy, following the metal icon’s death on July 22. For the first few shows, the tribute seemed respectful enough — a simple image of Osbourne shown on the big screens while the song played.
But things took a strange and uncomfortable turn.
Footage from Stewart’s recent performances shows the tribute now features AI-generated images of Ozzy in heaven, holding a selfie stick and snapping photos with other deceased artists like Freddie Mercury, Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, Prince, Bob Marley, Tupac Shakur, and Whitney Houston. The digital montage also includes more controversial figures like Michael Jackson and XXXTentacion, which only added fuel to the online backlash.
Fans across social media were quick to call the video “cringe,” “insensitive,” and “deeply disrespectful.” Many questioned why anyone thought having AI-Ozzy take selfies in heaven was a good idea — especially while set to a Rod Stewart ballad.
As if that wasn’t enough, Stewart followed the song during his July 29 show in Charlotte, NC by telling the crowd: “Very sad. A lot of those people died ’cause of drugs… I’m still here, though!”
The comment, captured in a review by The Charlotte Observer, came off as tone-deaf to many fans, especially given Ozzy’s long, public battle with substance abuse — and his effort in recent years to stay clean and focus on health.
Stewart did previously pay a more grounded tribute on social media after Osbourne’s passing, writing: “Bye, bye Ozzy. Sleep well, my friend. I’ll see you up there — later rather than sooner.”
Ozzy Osbourne died on July 22 at the age of 76. He had been battling Parkinson’s disease since his diagnosis in 2019, a struggle he faced openly with the public. Although the official cause of death has not been confirmed, reports indicate that paramedics attempted life-saving measures for nearly two hours after responding to a medical emergency at his home in Buckinghamshire. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family.
Writer and extreme metal devotee, Ialdagorth has spent over a decade covering the darkest corners of heavy music. A black metal lifer, he spends his free time wandering the Carpathian Mountains, likely humming blast beats to the trees.
