The Osbourne family is not backing down. Sharon and Jack Osbourne have delivered a strong, no-holds-barred response to fans and critics accusing them of turning Ozzy into a “cash grab” with their planned AI avatar project.
In a recent episode of The Osbournes podcast, the mother-son duo pushed back passionately against the backlash surrounding their partnership with HYPERREAL to create a digital Ozzy avatar.
Jack clarified the technology:
“What we’re doing — this isn’t ChatGPT with dad’s face on it. It’s a closed A.I., so it’s not connected to the Internet. We build a database… only information that either my dad said or was accurate.”
Sharon didn’t mince words, firing back at the critics:
“I’m not asking you to come. I don’t want your fucking money. I don’t need your fucking money. I’m doing very well, actually, and I always have my entire life.”
She continued emotionally, revealing Ozzy’s own long-standing fears:
“My husband would say to me over and over, ‘After I go, how long do you think I’ll be remembered?’ … I’m not gonna let anyone bastardize my husband.”
Jack emphasized the family’s control over the project:
“The most important thing is that when we create this digital imprint of Dad, we create it, we own it, we control it… And it’s for our grandkids.”
He added:
“If keeping Dad alive and accessible to a fan is a cash grab, then fucking guilty as charged… It’s not about pretending he’s still alive. For me it’s about making sure he’s never forgotten.”
The family is working with advanced technology (including Proto Luma holographic units) that will allow fans to interact with a digital Ozzy who answers in his real voice, based only on approved material. The project is expected to launch in late summer 2026 in the UK and US.
This is classic Osbourne energy — raw, honest, and fiercely protective of the family legacy. While some fans worry about the ethics of AI recreations, Sharon and Jack make a compelling case: preserving Ozzy’s presence for future generations and giving fans a chance to “talk” to him. In an industry where legends often fade, the Osbournes are aggressively fighting to keep the Prince of Darkness alive in the digital age.
