Jack Osbourne has shared a glimpse into what his dad’s last hours were like, explaining that the day began in an ordinary way.
Rock icon Ozzy Osbourne died on July 22 last year, not long after he returned to the stage for a farewell show with his Black Sabbath bandmates in their hometown of Birmingham, UK.
Confirming his death at the time, his family released a statement that read: “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning.
“He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
In the months since, Ozzy’s loved ones have continued to honor his legacy publicly. Most recently, at last weekend’s BRIT Awards in Manchester, Sharon Osbourne and daughter Kelly accepted a lifetime achievement award in his name.
Now, Ozzy’s son Jack has spoken about the loss while appearing on Jamie Kennedy’s podcast, Hate to Break It to Ya.
During the March 5 episode, Jack described the final moments he spent with his father and emphasized how unexpectedly calm the morning felt.
“It was a few days after I got back that he passed, and we were… Even the morning that he passed, it was like — it wasn’t anything dramatic at all,” Jack said, adding: “He was up, he was doing his thing, had some breakfast, and that was it.”
Ozzy had faced serious health challenges for years, including being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2003. Even so, Jack said the speed of his passing still caught the family off guard.
“Obviously everyone knew he was sick,” said Jack. “He was really gearing up for the [Black Sabbath final] show, so he was exercising a lot and moving around. He was fired up.”
Jack went on to explain that, despite the struggles, Ozzy had been pushing himself in the lead-up to the final performance — which made the suddenness of his death difficult to process.
“But yeah, we weren’t expecting it to be as quick as it was. I just think he was done… I do think we have a choice, to a degree.”
Earlier in the conversation, Jamie asked how Jack was coping, and he said he was ‘doing alright’. His sister Kelly has been more open in recent months about how hard she’s finding life after their dad’s death.
Kelly has also responded to remarks about her appearance, saying the public scrutiny has been painful while she’s grieving.
“There is a special kind of cruelty in harming someone who is clearly going through something,” Kelly said following her appearance at the BRITs.
“Kicking me while I’m down, doubting my pain, spreading my struggles as gossip, and turning your back when I need support and love most.”
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact GrieveWell on (734) 975-0238, or email [email protected].