Six weeks after Ozzy Osbourne’s death, Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters has stirred controversy with harsh comments about the late heavy metal icon. Speaking on the Independent Ink podcast, Waters criticized Osbourne for what he described as spreading “hundreds of years of idiocy and nonsense” through popular culture — remarks that quickly drew an angry response from Ozzy’s son, Jack Osbourne.
During the discussion, Waters reflected on how celebrity culture often distracts the public from important issues. Slipping into a satirical roleplay as a figure of authority, he imagined how those in power might manipulate attention:
“How can we push this to one side? I know how to do it! We’ll do it with Taylor Swift, or bubble gum, or Kim Kardashian’s bum.”
He then shifted gears, bringing Osbourne into the conversation. “Or Ozzy Osbourne, who just died, bless him,” Waters said. “In whatever state that he was in his whole life, we’ll never know. Although he was all over the TV for hundreds of years with his idiocy and nonsense.”
Waters didn’t stop at Osbourne’s public persona. He went further, dismissing Black Sabbath’s music entirely:
“The music, I have no idea. I couldn’t give a fuck. I don’t care about Black Sabbath, I never did. I have no interest in… ‘Wahhhh!!!’” Waters added, while sticking his tongue out in what appeared to be a mock impression more reminiscent of Gene Simmons than Osbourne.
When a host pointed out that Osbourne had bitten the head off a bat — not a chicken, as Waters initially suggested — the Pink Floyd legend reacted with disgust. “Oh my God, that’s even worse, isn’t it? I don’t know, is it worse to bite the head off a bat or a chicken?”
Waters’ blunt remarks have reignited debate around his often polarizing views, while also touching a nerve among Osbourne’s fans and family members still grieving the loss of the heavy metal pioneer.
