Rod Stewart is facing backlash for his concert’s tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, which shows an AI graphic of the late musician taking selfies with dead stars in heaven.
The 80-year-old “Maggie May” singer, who is on tour in the US, has reportedly been dedicating his 1988 song “Forever Young” to the Black Sabbath singer, who died last month aged 76.
An added background visual has since stirred controversy. Viral footage from Stewart’s concert at the Ameris Bank Amphitheatre in Alpharetta, Georgia, on Friday (1 August) captured an AI-generated sequence, which sees a gleeful Osbourne posing for photos with a range of music legends.
Those featured in the video included Prince, Tina Turner, Bob Marley, Tupac Shakur, Aaliyah, Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, Kurt Cobain, George Michael, XXXTentacion, Whitney Houston and Amy Winehouse.
@iamsloanesteel Last night I went to a Rod Stewart concert and he played this “tribute” to Ozzy. The selfie sticks in heaven?!! XXXTentacion?! #ozzyosbourne #rodstewart #XXXTentacion
♬ original sound - Sloane Steel
The video, which has been viewed more than three million times on X/Twitter alone, has been branded tasteless and offensive.
“This is the craziest, most disrespectful s*** I ever saw in my LIFE!!!” said one person who shared the video.
Another person said in response: “I’ve seen some s***ty AI visuals in concerts, but this is a new low.” A third dramatically remarked that “we truly are in the end times”.
Others weren’t quite as critical and found it a touching way to honour the many legends from the music industry who have passed away. "Why on earth is this disrespectful???" asked one fan. "Meeting with all those stars in Heaven is a good thing to wish!!! Stop being soooo sensitive!!!"
“I think this is great!! I see NO disrespect...only people that have passed on and are enjoying each other again,” noted another.
In addition, TMZ reports that Tupac Shakur's stepbrother, Mopreme Shakur, said that he has no issues with the tribute. "I’m pretty sure we all love Rod Stewart,” he told the outlet. “I’m not sure about the legalities of it, but I have no problem with him memorialising the greats. Personally, I’m good with it."
The Independent has contacted Rod Stewart’s representatives for comment.
Osbourne, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019, died at the age of 76 on 22 July. Since his death, heartfelt tributes have been pouring in from around the globe from friends and fans.
Thousands visited the Black Sabbath Bench in his home city of Birmingham to lay bouquets and leave balloons, cards and candles.
The Osbourne family visited the bench in Broad Street on Wednesday (30 July) to lay their own flowers ahead of the heavy metal legend’s private funeral.
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