Rod Stewart has drawn criticism for an AI-generated tribute video featuring Ozzy Osbourne that was displayed during his recent concert at Ameris Bank Amphitheater. The footage was captured and shared by a concert attendee on Instagram.
The video depicted Osbourne taking selfies with deceased musicians in what appeared to be a heavenly setting. Stewart made comments about the loss of fellow musicians during the presentation.
“Very sad. A lot of those people died ’cause of drugs… I’m still here, though!” Stewart said during the show.
The tribute sparked negative reactions from fans who found the AI-generated content inappropriate. Critics questioned both the taste and timing of the presentation.
“This is garbage and absolutely distasteful,” one fan commented about the AI-generated video.
Another fan expressed concerns about the concept and permissions, writing: “The man just died that the shocking part about all of this. The like set people where like. You know what would be great? Having Ozzie just meeting all the singers who are dead in like chronological order (maybe I’m wrong here). And I bet they didn’t ask the Osbourne family permission.”
The controversial tribute comes at a particularly sensitive time following Osbourne’s recent passing. Funeral arrangements have captured global attention.
Blunt Magazine reported that the AI-generated video featured Osbourne holding a selfie stick and smiling with “eternal stars” including Janis Joplin, Prince, Tina Turner, Bob Marley, 2Pac, Aaliyah, Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, George Michael, Kurt Cobain, XXXTentacion, Whitney Houston, and Amy Winehouse. The inclusion of controversial figures like Michael Jackson and XXXTentacion in the heavenly afterlife setting added to viewer discomfort.
AOL confirmed that Osbourne was laid to rest last week after a private burial on his UK estate. His home city of Birmingham honored the Black Sabbath frontman with a large public funeral procession. Fans from around the world gathered to leave tributes at the iconic Black Sabbath Bench.
Stewart had previously paid tribute to Osbourne on Instagram the day he died, writing “Bye, bye Ozzy. I’ll see you up there – later rather than sooner.” However, Vinyl Me Please noted that Stewart has yet to publicly address the mounting backlash over the AI video presentation.
The controversy highlights ongoing debates about the use of AI technology in entertainment tributes. It also emphasizes the sensitivity required when honoring deceased artists amid rapidly evolving digital capabilities.
