WWE star Becky Lynch has come under fire after making what many fans branded a “disrespectful” joke about the death of Birmingham music legend Ozzy Osbourne during a live event.
The Irish wrestler, 37, appeared at WWE Raw, which was broadcast on Netflix from the BP Pulse Live Arena in Birmingham on Sunday, just weeks after Osbourne’s death at the age of 76.
During the televised show, Lynch – whose in-ring persona is that of a villain, known in wrestling as a “heel” – was confronted by fellow wrestler Nikki Bella, who challenged her to a match in the city. In response, Lynch mocked the local crowd by referencing Osbourne, the Black Sabbath frontman who died on July 22.
“I’m not wrestling in Birmingham,” she told the audience. “The only good thing that came out of here died a month ago. But in fairness to Ozzy Osbourne, he had the good sense to move to LA, a proper city. Because if I lived in Birmingham, I’d die too.”
The remark was met with a mixture of boos and shocked reactions inside the arena and quickly spread online, where fans accused her of crossing a line.
While wrestling fans are familiar with Lynch’s role as an antagonist who routinely provokes crowds, many argued that joking about Osbourne’s death so soon after the city was mourning one of its most famous cultural figures was “a step too far”.
One fan wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Being a heel doesn’t mean mocking a dead legend in his own city. Bad taste.” Another added: “Ozzy was Birmingham’s pride. That comment was uncalled for.”
As of Tuesday, Lynch had not issued any apology or clarification over her comments.
Osbourne’s passing last month prompted tributes from across the music world. The Prince of Darkness, who rose to fame with Black Sabbath in the late 1960s, was considered one of Birmingham’s most iconic cultural exports.
His death came just two weeks after a farewell charity concert at Villa Park, which saw performances from Metallica, Slayer, Guns N’ Roses and other major rock acts in his honour.
The BBC recently made the decision to postpone airing a new documentary on the Crazy Train hit-maker to “respect family’s wishes”.
