Yungblud has publicly addressed the backlash surrounding his Ozzy Osbourne tribute at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, pushing back against criticism from The Darkness and framing the controversy as a familiar case of rock gatekeeping.
As first reported by Billboard, the performance took place in New York on September 7, 2025, where Yungblud joined a heavyweight lineup that included Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Nuno Bettencourt for a tribute honoring the legacy of Ozzy Osbourne. Inside the venue, the moment landed with impact. Several artists in attendance praised the performance, including Ariana Grande, who was seen reacting positively to the collaboration.
Outside the room, however, the response was far less charitable. Dan and Justin Hawkins of The Darkness took to social media to criticize the tribute, dismissing it as “another nail in the coffin of rock n roll.” Their remarks quickly circulated online, igniting debate about authenticity, generational change, and who gets to define the future of rock music.
In a recent interview, Yungblud directly addressed the criticism, making it clear he had little patience for what he described as exclusionary attitudes. “The criticism at the VMAs was coming from people that were trying to be doormen at a party that they weren’t invited to,” he said, characterizing the backlash as an attempt to police rock culture rather than engage with it. For Yungblud, the response wasn’t discouraging—it was validating.
He went further, arguing that strong reactions, even negative ones, are proof that the performance mattered. “If people are indifferent about you, then you’re not truly anything at all,” he added. From his perspective, controversy signals relevance, especially in a genre that has always thrived on provocation and disruption.
The moment has since become part of a larger conversation about the state of modern rock, with Yungblud positioned as both a lightning rod and a bridge between generations. While some see his approach as irreverent, others view it as a necessary evolution—one that embraces legacy without freezing it in time.
Whether praised or condemned, Yungblud’s VMAs tribute succeeded in one undeniable way: it got people talking. And in a genre built on rebellion, noise, and reaction, that may be the most rock ’n’ roll outcome of all.
