Major Controversies Surrounding Sharon Osbourne: A Detailed Timeline

Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Sharon Osbourne.

Sharon Osbourne is a British-American television personality, music manager, and author. She gained fame through the MTV reality show "The Osbournes," which showcased her family's life. Following this, she became a prominent judge on talent competition shows like "The X Factor" and "America's Got Talent." Her career spans music management and television, establishing her as a recognizable figure in the entertainment industry.

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Full Timeline Controversies & Scandals

August 1989: Ozzy's Arrest for Attempted Murder

In August 1989, Ozzy Osbourne was arrested for attempted murder after he tried to strangle Sharon Osbourne. He then spent six months in rehabilitation, and Sharon did not press charges.

January 2003: Hosting the 30th Annual American Music Awards

In January 2003, Sharon Osbourne and her family hosted the 30th Annual American Music Awards. The night was marked by lewd remarks and controversy, with critics panning their hosting and Patricia Heaton walking out.

August 2005: Alleged Actions at Iron Maiden's Ozzfest Performance

On 20 August 2005, during Iron Maiden's last Ozzfest performance, several negative events took place, allegedly due to Sharon Osbourne's actions, reportedly in retaliation to Bruce Dickinson slighting reality TV.

June 2007: Premiere on America's Got Talent

On June 5, 2007, Sharon Osbourne's first episode on America's Got Talent premiered in the United States. In her first episode, she conflicted with Piers Morgan.

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October 2007: Walk Out on The X Factor

On October 20, 2007, Sharon Osbourne walked out on The X Factor panel after learning that two of her contestants were in the bottom two. She confirmed on October 23, 2007, she would return on the next episode.

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February 2008: Co-Hosting the BRIT Awards and Controversy

On 20 February 2008, Sharon Osbourne co-hosted the 28th edition of the BRIT Awards with her husband and daughter. During the awards, Osbourne caused controversy by calling Vic Reeves a "piss head" and a "bastard".

December 2008: Physical Altercation with Megan Hauserman and Filming Osbournes: Reloaded

In December 2008, Sharon Osbourne had a physical altercation with Megan Hauserman on the Rock of Love: Charm School reunion special after Hauserman made derogatory statements about Osbourne's husband, Ozzy. Hauserman filed a police report and lawsuit. Also in December 2008, the Osbourne family began filming their new variety show, Osbournes: Reloaded, at CBS Studios in Hollywood.

July 2011: Criticism for Comments on The Talk

In July 2011, Sharon Osbourne and some of her fellow The Talk panellists were criticised for their conduct when discussing the story of Catherine Kieu and for laughing about the incident.

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December 2011: Comments on The Howard Stern Show Regarding The Talk Firings

In December 2011, Sharon Osbourne spoke of the dismissals of Leah Remini and Holly Robinson Peete from The Talk on The Howard Stern Show, leading to accusations from Remini through a series of tweets.

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2011: Settlement with Megan Hauserman

In 2011, Sharon Osbourne reached a settlement with Megan Hauserman regarding the lawsuit filed after their altercation in 2008.

January 2020: Backlash and Retraction on The Talk

In January 2020, following negative reception to a clip from 'Would I Lie to You?', Sharon Osbourne backtracked on her story about firing her assistant on 'The Talk'. She claimed it was a joke and she fired him 15 years later, but her explanation was met with skepticism.

March 2021: Defense of Piers Morgan and Controversy on The Talk

In March 2021, Sharon Osbourne defended Piers Morgan's comments about Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, on 'The Talk', leading to a heated exchange with Sheryl Underwood. Criticism arose regarding Osbourne's behavior towards Underwood. A 2018 clip resurfaced showing Osbourne discussing the Duchess of Sussex's skin colour, saying Markle "ain't Black". CBS launched a review, and on 26 March 2021, concluded Osbourne's behavior didn't align with their values, leading to Osbourne's departure from 'The Talk'.

April 2025: Criticism of Kneecap's Coachella Performance

In April 2025, Sharon Osbourne criticized Goldenvoice, the organiser of Coachella, for booking Kneecap due to their pro-Palestine messages and chants. She called for the revocation of the band members' work visas.