Sharon Osbourne Puts Blame on Black Sabbath Member She Believes Is Responsible for Ozzy’s Death
London, July 23, 2025 — In a heart-wrenching and emotionally charged revelation, Sharon Osbourne has publicly named the Black Sabbath member she believes contributed to the tragic decline and eventual death of her beloved husband, Ozzy Osbourne. Speaking through tears during a televised interview earlier this week, Sharon held nothing back as she reflected on the years of tension, excess, and unresolved conflict within the iconic heavy metal band.
Ozzy Osbourne, known globally as the “Prince of Darkness” and one of the founding fathers of heavy metal, passed away just weeks ago, sending shockwaves throughout the music world. While the official cause of death was complications from Parkinson’s disease and decades of physical wear from touring, Sharon says there was more to the story.
And in her words, it wasn’t just time or illness that stole Ozzy—it was betrayal from someone close.
“I’ve kept quiet for years,” Sharon began, her voice shaking. “But after losing the love of my life, I can’t stay silent anymore. One of the people Ozzy trusted the most ended up being one of the reasons he deteriorated the way he did. I believe Tony Iommi played a part in breaking Ozzy—not just once, but again and again over the years.”
Tony Iommi, the legendary guitarist of Black Sabbath and longtime friend-turned-foe-turned-collaborator, has long had a complicated relationship with Ozzy. While the band rose to meteoric fame together in the 1970s, it was Iommi who led the effort to oust Ozzy from the group in 1979 due to his spiraling addiction issues—a decision that devastated the frontman and almost derailed his life permanently.
“Tony always played the calm one in public,” Sharon continued. “But behind closed doors, there was bitterness, control, and manipulation. He never forgave Ozzy for outshining the rest. And when Ozzy was at his lowest, Tony walked away instead of helping him. He left him to rot. That broke something inside of Ozzy that never fully healed.”
According to Sharon, Ozzy spent years trying to rebuild his relationship with Iommi and the rest of Black Sabbath. Their 2013 reunion album, 13, was seen as a triumphant moment, but Sharon now says it masked the tension behind the scenes.
“Ozzy would come home in tears sometimes,” she said. “He felt used. They wanted him back for the tour and the album—not because they loved him, but because they knew he was still the name that sold tickets. That ate at him.”
Though the public saw the band’s farewell tour in 2017 as a respectful sendoff, Sharon paints a different picture—one of internal coldness, unresolved grudges, and emotional manipulation.
“You have to understand—Ozzy was fragile. After his spinal surgeries, the Parkinson’s diagnosis, the endless pain—what he needed was peace. But instead, he was haunted by that band, by the pressure to be ‘Ozzy the Godfather of Metal’ when all he wanted was to be John Osbourne, the man he used to be.”
Sharon revealed that in the final months before Ozzy’s death, he struggled emotionally with his legacy—especially the scars left by his time in Sabbath. Despite their shared history, Sharon believes that Tony never truly showed the compassion or friendship that Ozzy craved in his final days.
“Ozzy forgave him. That was who he was. But I saw the pain every day. The breakdown of their relationship killed him slowly over time.”
Fans have reacted with mixed emotions. While many express sympathy and support for Sharon, others defend Iommi, citing his own struggles and contributions to the band’s legacy. In response to the growing controversy, a representative for Tony Iommi issued a brief statement:
“Tony is heartbroken by Ozzy’s passing. He has always respected Ozzy’s contributions to Black Sabbath and cherished their decades of music together. He will not comment on personal accusations during this time of mourning.”
Still, Sharon says she doesn’t expect apologies—only truth.
“I stood by Ozzy through the addictions, the fame, the surgeries, the good and bad. But what I saw destroy him in the end wasn’t drugs or disease—it was heartbreak. The kind that comes when someone you love never fully accepts you. And I won’t pretend otherwise anymore.”
As tributes continue to pour in for the late rock icon, Sharon Osbourne’s candid words add a new and deeply emotional layer to Ozzy’s legacy—a story not only of stardom and survival but also of betrayal and a man’s lifelong fight to be seen beyond the myth.
One thing is certain: the Prince of Darkness may be gone, but his light—and the shadows it cast—will be felt for decades to come.
