"Rod Stewart's tribute to Ozzy Osbourne is exceptionally disrespectful and shocking, shocking even for the greatest of spectators"
Rod Stewart has been paying tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne during his "One Last Time" tour, creating an AI-generated video that features Osbourne in a heavenly setting interacting with other deceased music icons. The video, which has been viewed over three million times on Twitter, has stirred up controversy and divided fans.
The tribute, which includes AI visuals of Osbourne posing and taking selfies with stars such as Bob Marley, Tina Turner, Prince, Freddie Mercury, Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston, and XXXTentacion, has been met with a mix of criticism and praise.
Some fans and social media users have criticised the video, calling it "tacky", "embarrassing", and "the most distasteful thing" they have ever seen. Others have described it as "crazy" and "disrespectful", comparing it to an inappropriate use of AI images of dead loved ones without permission.
However, others have defended Stewart, saying it was his personal way of honoring those who have passed away, and that different individuals have different ways of showing respect. Stewart himself has addressed the sombre context of the tribute, noting the tragedy of drug-related deaths among the musicians and expressing a desire for his own funeral to be a celebration rather than a sad event.
The use of AI to represent deceased celebrities raises ethical questions and emotional reactions about respect, consent, and the nature of memorializing with new technologies. The tribute highlights current tensions around the use of AI in such contexts, and the debate is likely to continue as artists continue to explore the possibilities of AI in their creative endeavours.
In addition to the tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, Oasis has been dedicating Rock N' Roll Star to the late rock legend at their gigs. The band's frontman, Liam Gallagher, has been known to be a close friend of Osbourne.
Meanwhile, XXXTentacion, who was a 'cloud' rapper and was murdered in 2018 at the age of 20, was not known to have had any connection with Ozzy Osbourne during his lifetime. The notion that deceased pop stars are slapping each other's backs and duetting with each other in heaven is simple and bordering on imbecilic, according to some critics.
Despite the controversy, the video has not deterred fans from attending Stewart's concerts. The singer is currently on tour in the States, and the debate surrounding the tribute is likely to continue as more fans experience the AI-generated spectacle.
One user suggested that meeting with various stars in heaven is a good thing to wish for, while another commented that the video is "a new low" in terms of AI visuals in concerts. Another user called the video the "craziest, most disrespectful sh** they ever saw in their LIFE."
Despite the criticism, others have taken a more relaxed approach, with one user advising people to stop being so sensitive. Not everyone finds the video disrespectful, with one user asking why it would be disrespectful.
As the debate continues, it is clear that the use of AI in memorializing deceased celebrities is a complex and sensitive issue, one that is likely to continue to divide fans and spark debate for years to come.
The AI-generated video, featuring Ozzy Osbourne with music icons like Bob Marley, Tina Turner, Prince, Freddie Mercury, Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston, and XXXTentacion, has spurred conversations around the use of AI in entertainment and pop-culture, with some fans and critics labeling it variously as distasteful, disrespectful, and even embarrassing.
However, supporters of Rod Stewart argue that the video was a personal way for Stewart to honor deceased music legends, and that different individuals have unique ways of expressing respect in the face of loss.
