Ozzy Osbourne - we shouldn't speak ill of the dead but has his domestic abuse and serial infidelity been glossed over in all the eulogies?

[mids2019]

Maybe because he was a rocker firm the 70s but it seems Ozzy's real character flaws have been warped into a 'charismatic hell raiser ' image to be admired.

In reality should we also be critical about his actions and views?

Maybe give it at least a couple of days.

Maybe.....raised a lot of money for charity but I still think there was something sad about him and Sharon's lifestyle.

Having said that it does seem to have been mentioned in at least some of the obituaries.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jul/22/ozzy-osbourne-obituary

I swear, before the whole reality TV stuff made Sharon Osbourne famous, I saw her give an interview where she said he shot their pet cats dead. There are also multiple other incidents of deliberate animal cruelty that he is on record as committing; not just the infamous bat incident.

I don't think Sharon taking a few punches and accepting Ozzy's infidelities adds to her strong forthright persona. I think there is probably something deeply sad at the heart of this.... but the music was revolutionary

Rock n Roller famous guy was not a saint. Shocker.
Not really.

Definitely a sinner not a a saint and this was part of his image. Whether a lovable rogue image in his later life was quite appropriate I don't know

In reality should we also be critical about his actions and views?

What good will come of that? The man’s dead the only people that will be hurt now by anyone criticising him will be his family.

"What good will come of that? "

Letting abusers and victims know that domestic abuse won't just be swept under the carpet by society and that "don't speak ill of the dead" doesn't mean just airbrush history.

Well yes he was certainly no angel. He did some really fucked up things.
That was sort of his selling point, as heavy metal ‘Prince of Darkness’.

@powershowerforanhour

I kind of get the impression if your rich and famous with also some charitable work you get a bit of a free pass reputation wise.

Personally I think some of Ozzy's behaviour has been glossed over because he was a man of his time and class....whether this stands or not is debatable?

Yes his multiple affairs. Abuse of animals. Didn’t he murder 17 of his own cats or something? Completely written off - I heard someone praise him as a the sweetest kindest man today on the radio - Sharon tried to commit suicide I think after discovering a 4 years affair with his hairdresser or something - lovely family man apparently 🤢

He did hit Sharon by his won admission... but she did throw things at him ?!?

All part of being the price of darkness I guess ...

Well said.

I didn’t know about his prolific animal abuse/cruelty.
I can just recall the animals shitting/pissing anywhere in their house.

Disgusting. Not a fan of his music either and couldn’t name one song.

So why wait until they die to speak about it?

@mids2019 he's not even been dead 24 hours.....

Well the press are happy to recount all these things so surely it's fair comment? I think it's reasonable to debate whether the rich and famous should be held to different standard s even in death?

Aside from the cat murdering, Ozzy and Sharon were basically animal hoarders. On their show there were loads of dogs just shitting everywhere indoors, no idea if they ever got walked or anything. It's animal abuse and he got away with it because he was a celebrity.

He also attempted to murder Sharon while high on drugs. Had she not pushed the panic button in their room he probably would have succeeded.

This is correct.

The whole family is completely dysfunctional.

Let’s face it - a 70/80’s heavy metal rock star with a lively drug addiction is hardly going to be a model citizen. Groupies were an essential part of the scene. Sharon knew what she was doing as well.

he was not a saint, more a reflection of that time when drugs were cheap and used like alcohol.

No. He was a showman. I wasn't a fan but what's the point in talking about his faults at this time.

This marriage was very likely an abusive relationship. This isn't about drugs and affairs. It's about cruelty and violence and children and animals growing up in this messed up household.

Also airbrushed a whole 3 kids before Sharon. Bat biting was the least of thier worries.