BRIT Awards Ozzy Osbourne Tribute Splits Viewers
A tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne at the 2026 BRIT Awards sparked a mixed reaction from viewers after Sharon Osbourne accepted a posthumous lifetime achievement honour for the Black Sabbath frontman during the ceremony in Manchester.
During her on-stage remarks, Manchester Evening News reported that parts of Mrs. Sharon Osbourne’s speech were censored, including moments where she joked that Ozzy would have wanted her to “just say thank you and get off that stage.”
In the speech, Mrs. Osbourne praised Ozzy’s decades-long career and called him “authentic,” “gifted” and “totally unpredictable,” while also highlighting his Birmingham roots and long-running connection to England. She also thanked Ozzy’s touring crew and fans, and said his “amazing body of work” would not be forgotten.
The presentation was followed by a tribute performance curated by Mrs. Osbourne, with Robbie Williams leading a special arrangement of “No More Tears” alongside musicians associated with Ozzy’s band, including keyboardist Adam Wakeman, Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, drummer Tommy Clufetos and guitarist Zakk Wylde. Online reaction ranged from praise for Williams’ vocals to criticism from some viewers who felt Yungblud would have been a more fitting choice to lead the performance.
As the Osbourne family continues to make public appearances amid ongoing mourning, the BRITs moment also arrived the same week Kelly Osbourne addressed backlash after walking the red carpet with her mother, underlining how closely the family’s grief and legacy are being scrutinised in the public eye.
