Rod Stewart sparked controversy among his followers with an allegedly distasteful homage to Ozzy Osbourne.
Rod Stewart's unique tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne during his "One Last Time" tour has caused a stir, with fans divided over the peculiar and controversial visuals that depicted Osbourne and other deceased music legends taking selfies in a heavenly setting.
The video, shown during Stewart’s performances, featured AI-generated imagery of Osbourne alongside late icons like Michael Jackson, Prince, Tina Turner, Bob Marley, Freddie Mercury, Kurt Cobain, George Michael, and Amy Winehouse. The video showcased Osbourne using a selfie stick to film himself in a slow-motion, uncanny effect typical of AI-generated visuals.
Reactions on social media were mixed. Some users found the video "distasteful" and "disrespectful," likening it to the inappropriate use of deceased loved ones’ images. Others saw it as Stewart’s personal way of honouring Osbourne, emphasising that people show respect differently.
One concert attendee, who posted a video on Instagram, described the AI montage as "human horror" and "the craziest and most disrespectful" thing she'd ever seen. Some users even suggested that Stewart should be sued for the video, while others found the criticism unwarranted.
Initially, Stewart had dedicated his song "Forever Young" to Osbourne and expressed his intention to celebrate life rather than have a sad event, saying, "I want it to be a time to say ‘thanks’."
The controversy reflects ongoing debates about AI’s role in art, memory, and respect towards human experience at sensitive moments like death. Critics highlighted the ethical and emotional complications of AI-generated tributes involving deceased individuals.
In the end, Rod Stewart's AI tribute to Ozzy Osbourne drew mixed reactions, with fans divided over its unusual and uncanny portrayal of late music stars in a playful "heavenly selfie" setting, producing a clash between appreciation and discomfort over appropriateness and respect.
[1] The Guardian, "Rod Stewart's AI tribute to Ozzy Osbourne sparks controversy," [URL] [2] The New York Times, "The Ethics of AI-Generated Tributes to Deceased Individuals," [URL] [3] Rolling Stone, "Rod Stewart's AI Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne Backfires," [URL] [4] Billboard, "Rod Stewart's AI Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne: A Divisive Tribute," [URL] [5] CNN, "The Uncanny Valley of AI-Generated Selfies with Deceased Music Legends," [URL]
- The "heavenly selfie" video paying tribute to Ozzy Osbourne by Rod Stewart during his tour, featuring AI-generated imagery of celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Prince, Tina Turner, Bob Marley, Freddie Mercury, Kurt Cobain, George Michael, and Amy Winehouse, has sparked a debate about the role of AI in entertainment and its treatment of pop-culture icons.
- As reactions on social media continue to be divisive, some viewing the tribute as distasteful and disrespectful, while others appreciating it as a unique way of honoring Osbourne, the conversation about the ethics and emotional implications of AI-generated tributes to deceased individuals persists, with critics raising questions regarding memory, art, and respect towards human experience at sensitive moments.
