Kelly Osbourne is fiercely defending her late father, Ozzy Osbourne, after Dee Snider took aim at his musical legacy.
The TV personality slammed the Twisted Sister frontman after the rocker questioned Ozzy Osbourne's songwriting contributions. He also made a pointed remark about his wife and longtime manager, Sharon Osbourne.
Osbourne's response came after Snider, 71, weighed in on Ozzy Osbourne's songwriting history while responding to fans on X earlier this week. During one exchange about musicians who contributed to Ozzy's music, Snider claimed the Black Sabbath rocker "always had bass players write his lyrics" and that Geezer Butler "wrote ALL of Black Sabbath lyrics."
"Daisley wrote lyrics for the first two solo albums (I'm pretty sure he was paid to write on other records but not credited) & Lemmy wrote lyrics," Snider wrote, referring to Bob Daisley and Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister.
In a separate post on X about Kilmister's contributions, Snider suggested there was more to the story behind the scenes before taking aim at Sharon Osbourne. "I know too much about the truth behind the scenes," Snider wrote. "Let's just say that Sharon doesn't like to share."
"A load"? How about ALL the lyrics? Ozzy always had bass players write his lyrics. @geezerbutler wrote ALL of @BlackSabbath lyrics. Daisley wrote lyrics for the first two solo albums (I'm pretty sure he was paid to write on other records but not credited) & Lemmy wrote lyrics. https://t.co/yRTF19ro4w
— Dee Snider🇺🇸🎤 (@deesnider) August 12, 2026
In a series of Instagram Stories shared on Friday, Aug. 14, Osbourne fired back at Snider, defending her father's decadeslong career and accusing the musician of trying to diminish his legacy more than a year after his death.
"My father's legacy as a musician, songwriter, singer and bandleader speaks for itself," Osbourne wrote. "His friends, those who worked with him, those who love him, and millions of fans around the world that still continue to buy his records know exactly what he meant, what he contributed and what he leaves behind."
She added: "His legacy will live on eternally."
Osbourne then continued her response by going directly after Snider and comparing the two rockers' careers.
"Your last hit...not to age myself was the year I was born 40 years ago," she wrote. The TV personality then proceeded to call Snider's remarks "spectacularly classless," criticizing him for making allegations about her father when he's no longer alive to respond.
"If Snider wants to invite comparisons between their careers, that comparison is devastating enough on its own," Osbourne wrote. She credited her father's nearly six-decade career, which began with Black Sabbath and continued through a hugely successful solo run, cementing his status as one of heavy metal's most recognizable figures.
Snider later sought to clarify his comments, saying his remarks about songwriting credits were not intended as an attack on Ozzy Osbourne.
"To be clear, I HAVE NOTHING BUT LOVE FOR OZZY. He was always lovely to me," Snider wrote in a separate post on X in response to Kelly Osbourne's posts. "@BlackSabbath changed my life! As a songwriter I can be a little touchy about credit and royalties."
And again. To be clear, I HAVE NOTHING BUT LOVE FOR OZZY. He was always lovely to me. @BlackSabbath changed my life! As a songwriter I can be a little touchy about credit and royalties. https://t.co/ZUlgFO4g0j
— Dee Snider🇺🇸🎤 (@deesnider) August 14, 2026
Ozzy Osbourne died on July 22, 2025, at age 76, just weeks after taking the stage for his final performance with his Black Sabbath bandmates for the "Back to the Beginning" concert in his hometown of Birmingham, England. His cause of death was revealed to be a heart attack.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kelly Osbourne slams Dee Snider over 'classless' Ozzy Osbourne comment
