Yungblud Defends His Ozzy Osbourne VMA Tribute Amid Backlash

October 2025 — British rocker Yungblud (born Dominic Harrison) has publicly responded to a wave of criticism aimed at his high-profile tribute performance to Ozzy Osbourne at this year’s MTV VMAs, insisting his intentions were heartfelt and genuine rather than opportunistic.

In September 2025, Yungblud took the stage at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, joining rock heavyweights such as Steven Tyler, Joe Perry (both of Aerosmith) and Nuno Bettencourt in a medley of Ozzy classics including “Crazy Train”, “Changes” and “Mama, I’m Coming Home”. consequence.net+2Guitar World+2

The tribute was meant to honour the late “Prince of Darkness”, who died in July 2025 at age 76. People.com+1

Backlash and accusations of “clout-chasing”

Shortly after the broadcast, some respected rock figures voiced strong reservations about the performance. Notably, brothers Dan and Justin Hawkins of the English rock band The Darkness publicly and sharply criticised Yungblud’s appearance. Dan referred to it as “another nail in the coffin of rock n roll. Cynical, nauseating and more importantly; shit.” consequence.net+2Guitar World+2 Justin added that Yungblud “seems to have positioned himself as a natural heir to the Ozzy legacy,” questioning the link between decades of legacy and a younger artist jumping onto the stage. Guitar World+1
These remarks triggered a wider debate about authenticity in rock, generational divides and whether tributes of this nature are genuine or merely media-friendly spectacle.

Yungblud responds: “bitter and jealous” critics

On an episode of the podcast Trying Not to Die (hosted by Ozzy’s son Jack Osbourne and Ryan Drexler), Yungblud addressed the criticism head-on. He maintained that the tribute was deeply personal:

“All I was trying to do was my best for your old man because he gave me such a gift.” Guitar World+1
He further declared:

“When people try and intellectualise a sense of spirit … it’s just bitter and jealous. They are doing the things that they say we are doing — they’re trying to insert themselves into a conversation to obtain some kind of relevancy on the back of us honouring one of the greatest rock stars that ever lived.” Loudwire+1

Yungblud added a pointed remark about true rock icons, saying:

“You ain’t ever gonna see someone that’s bigger or more emotionally evolved than you talk shit on you. … You ain’t ever gonna see [Metallica frontman] James Hetfield slag off a young rock star … they don’t need to insert themselves into a conversation.” Guitar World+1

Jack Osbourne steps in with backing

Jack Osbourne, who introduced the tribute performance at the VMAs via video message, offered his own strong support for Yungblud. He told Yungblud:

“You were so much more involved… they don’t know the fing story of it.” Guitar World+1
Jack revealed that Yungblud and the Osbourne family shared a longstanding connection, and that Yungblud had texted him the night before the performance: “Fing crush it.” Guitar World+1
During the podcast discussion Jack became emotional, emphasising that their bond was deeper than what public observers could appreciate. The Sun+1

On legacy, performance and generational bridge

Yungblud also spoke about how the performance was intended as a bridging moment between generations of rock fans. He said that the VMAs appearance was one of the few acts that genuinely performed live on that night. Guitar World+1

“It was so interesting when I spoke to Ozzy about this. He said that you cannot take that on. It’s hard to understand someone who is trying to do rock music in a new way because … I’m referencing the past; we all were.” Guitar World
He added:

“People forget that rock is dictated by the people… The people are what makes something rock and roll … as far as I’m concerned, the people fing loved it, and we got to put your fing dad’s face in front of another 100 million people that night and keep that legacy alive.” geo.tv+1

In his view, the tribute was less about personal show-boating and more about preserving and honouring Ozzy’s cultural imprint for new audiences.

Critics remain unconvinced

Despite Yungblud’s rebuttal and Jack Osbourne’s backing, critics within the rock community remain unconvinced. The Hawkins brothers continue to view the performance as theatrical and styled for mass media rather than raw rock authenticity. In posts and comments they framed it as symptomatic of rock’s dilution by spectacle. MusicRadar+1 The debate has exposed a fault-line: whether younger-generation rockers who combine flamboyance with mainstream exposure can be taken seriously by older purists.

What it means for Yungblud and the rock community

For Yungblud, the controversy may in part signify his evolving place in rock’s ecosystem: an artist with roots in alternative/pop-punk bending toward classic rock heritage, and seeking affirmation from both ends of the genre spectrum. His response suggests he is unwilling to back down from spectacle or mainstream platforms, or to surrender his vision of what rock can become for younger fans.

For the rock community more widely, the episode spotlights tensions over authenticity, legacy, and generational shifts. The question revealed is: when a tribute sits at the intersection of legacy-preservation and mass-market entertainment, who gets to judge if it’s valid? Yungblud’s case suggests that the answer may lie less in gate-keeping and more in relational truth — the sense that the performer’s intentions and personal ties matter.

In Yungblud’s own words

Reflecting on the moment, Yungblud concluded:

“I just loved your dad … and I was like, you know what, I’m just going to do it.” People.com+1
“Sometimes people don’t believe me, and I welcome that challenge.” Guitar World

Whether the broader rock world will embrace the performance as a worthy homage or continue to view it with scepticism remains to be seen. For now, at least, Yungblud and the Osbourne family stand aligned in defending it as a sincere tribute — one performed with personal meaning, not merely for spectacle.