Rod Stewart Faces Backlash for AI Tribute to Late Ozzy Osbourne

Rod Stewart faced significant backlash after using an AI-generated video tribute to honor the late Ozzy Osbourne during his recent concerts in the U.S. The video, shown while performing "Forever Young," depicted Osbourne in heaven taking selfies with other deceased music legends, including Prince, Michael Jackson, Tupac, and Freddie Mercury, which many fans and social media users found disrespectful and in poor taste. Stewart’s accompanying remarks about drug-related deaths among the depicted artists further fueled criticism. While some defended the tribute as a creative use of technology, most viewed it as an odd and insensitive homage, especially given Stewart's personal connection to Osbourne. The AI video originated from a TikTok account known for creating digital images of deceased celebrities, raising concerns about consent and respect for the artists' legacies. Stewart's attempt to memorialize Osbourne was overshadowed by the controversy, highlighting the complex discourse around AI use in commemorations.