Sign up to Roisin O'Connor's free weekly newsletter now Listen to this to get the inside track on all things music
Get Now Hear This email for free
Ozzy Osbourne has claimed that Kanye West wanted to try Black Sabbath in his music but was rejected “because it is anti-Semitic”.
In a tweet shared on Friday (February 9), the Black Sabbath singer, 75, wrote that West, 46, had asked for permission to use a lower-quality clip of the band performing “War Pigs” in 1983.
“He is anti-Semitic and has caused untold hurt to so many,” Ozi wrote, adding: “I don’t want to be associated with this man!”
Osbourne announced that West went ahead and used the clip anyway during a listening party in Chicago for his new album, the EaglesThursday.
The Independent I have contacted Western representatives for comment.
West's collaborative album with Ty Dolla $ign was scheduled to be released on Friday, but had not been shared at the time of writing.
The controversial artist released the music video for his two-part single “TALKING/ONCE AGAIN” on Wednesday, which features his 10-year-old daughter, North, rapping.
West has drawn widespread criticism in recent years for anti-Semitic comments he has made.
In December 2022, he appeared on right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' show, where he claimed to have “loved Hitler” and said people should “stop smearing Nazis”.
A year later, West posted an apology to the Jewish community written in Hebrew, but continued to share offensive opinions or content.
“It was not my intention to offend or be disrespectful, and I deeply regret any pain I may have caused,” he said. “Your forgiveness is important to me, and I am committed to making things right and promoting unity.”
Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million songs and podcasts ad-free with Amazon Music
Sign up now for a free 30-day trial
Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million songs and podcasts ad-free with Amazon Music
Sign up now for a free 30-day trial
Barely a month earlier, he had referenced the controversy surrounding “Vultures,” the lead single from his album of the same name: “How am I anti-Semitic? I had sex with a Jewish whore.”
In response to his anti-Semitic outbursts in 2022, West lost fashion collaborations with Adidas, Gap and Balenciaga, and was dropped by his agency CAA.
During the album launch party for the Eagles In December, West was seen wearing a KKK-style hood while on stage.
Meanwhile, Osbourne announced his retirement from touring in February last year, when he canceled his scheduled UK and European tour dates due to ill health. He called the statement “one of the hardest things” he's ever had to share with his fans.
Many of his health problems were linked to an accident he suffered at his home in 2019, in which he injured his spine. The injury aggravated a previous injury he suffered in a quad bike accident at his home in 2003.
In 2020, he also revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
