What was intended as a heartfelt tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne has instead sparked widespread criticism and ridicule, after fans witnessed a strange AI-generated video during Rod Stewart’s recent concerts.
In the days following Osbourne’s death on July 22, Stewart began dedicating his hit song “Forever Young” to the legendary BLACK SABBATH frontman during his live shows. Initially, the tribute was relatively simple — featuring a respectful image of Osbourne displayed on the video screens. But things took a surreal turn in more recent performances.
Video footage circulating on social media reveals that Stewart’s team replaced the simple photo with a bizarre AI animation. In it, a digital version of Osbourne appears in a heavenly setting, armed with a selfie stick, taking pictures with other deceased music legends — including Freddie Mercury, Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, Prince, Bob Marley, Tupac Shakur, and Whitney Houston.
The AI tribute didn’t stop there. Controversially, it also included portrayals of Michael Jackson and XXXTentacion — artists whose legacies remain polarizing due to serious allegations and past controversies. Many fans were left baffled and offended by the tone-deaf nature of the tribute, calling it “cringe,” “insensitive,” and “deeply disrespectful.”
To make matters worse, Stewart followed up the song with a comment that rubbed many the wrong way. After the performance in Charlotte, North Carolina on July 29, he told the crowd (according to Charlotte Observer): “Very sad. A lot of those people died ’cause of drugs… I’m still here, though!”
Following the announcement of Osbourne’s death, Stewart had initially posted a more traditional message on Instagram: “Bye, bye Ozzy. Sleep well, my friend. I’ll see you up there — later rather than sooner.”
Ozzy Osbourne, co-founder and frontman of BLACK SABBATH, passed away on July 22 at the age of 76. Ozzy’s death followed a long and public battle with Parkinson’s disease, which he was diagnosed with in 2019. While an official cause of death has not been confirmed, reports state that paramedics worked for nearly two hours to save him after responding to a medical emergency at his Buckinghamshire home, where he passed away peacefully surrounded by family.
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