Sharon Osbourne fires back at AEG following Ozzy's lawsuit dismissal
Sharon Osbourne is not keeping quiet following AEG’s claims it won a legal battle against her husband, Ozzy Osbourne.
Read more: Sharon Osbourne planning movie about her early life with Ozzy
Read her statement and check out what she had to say about AEG owner Phil Anschutz below.
Ozzy Osbourne vs. AEG
In February, Sharon accused AEG of using block-booking practices to force Ozzy into performing at the Staples Center in Los Angeles as a deal for a concert at the London’s O2 Arena.
This happened when the musician was trying to request a hold for the British venue O2 Arena for farewell tour in 2019, which his lawyer claims negatively affected Ozzy.
“Shame on AEG for bringing artists into a power struggle you’re having with your competitor, Live Nation,” Sharon Osbourne wrote to AEG Live chairman/CEO Jay Marciano. “I can assure you that Live Nation would never strong-arm an artist into playing a venue they’re not comfortable performing in.”
At the time, Marciano responded, saying: “Thank you for your note. Please understand this dispute is between The Forum and Staples Center and we couldn’t agree with you more — it should always be the artist’s choice. We long for the days when artists and fans came first.”
Later, the Black Sabbath frontman filed a suit against AEG and its block-booking requirement. The legal battle was dismissed on Friday, Sept. 21, a few days after Marciano announced the end of the policy.
AEG released a statement on Sept. 22, declaring the dismissal with prejudice was a victory for the company, Billboard reports.
“Our policy was an appropriate, lawful and effective competitive response to Irving Azoff’s pressure tactics seeking to force artists into the Forum. If those tactics resurface, we will redeploy our policy as needed,” the statement reads.
Sharon’s response
Following AEG’s statement, Sharon is sharing her own response to the case.
According to Billboard, which published her statement, Ozzy’s wife and manager intentionally spelled Anschutz’s name wrong.
“We know Mr. Anshultz (aka “Daddy Big Bucks”) is living in his billionaire bubble, but the fact is that Ozzy sued AEG for the right to perform at the O2 in London,” Sharon begins. “We won the case and Ozzy’s show at the O2 went on sale on September 5 for a show next year (February 11, 2019)–so in my world that means we won the case. Ozzy is playing the O2 without having to play the Staples Center, which is all that mattered to us.”
She explains that, for her, it was a battle about respect for artists and their right to pick venues in which they will play, not between promoters.
“Whatever differences you have with Irving Azoff, don’t presume you know who instigated the lawsuit or you know anything about Ozzy Osbourne, because you obviously don’t know anything about Ozzy’s history or mine,” Sharon continues. “So stop with your hubbildy, bubbuldy BULLSHIT and your little pissing contest with Live Nation and MSG.”
She goes on to say that Ozzy wanted to play The Forum because of his ties to the venue. Plus, the battle was for all “other artists who were being forced to abide by these rules and regulations.”
And then she finishes the statement in what we could only categorize as the best way possible:
“The only thing remotely interesting in your statement was your pitiful attempt at humor with your quote that Ozzy ‘had no idea what he was biting off.’ If you’re interested, Ozzy and I have got something nice for you bite on… our assholes… see ya loser!”
