Shockwaves in Rock: Kelly Osbourne Accuses Dee Snider of Disrespecting Ozzy's Lyrics

A heated disagreement has erupted between Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider and Kelly Osbourne, daughter of the late heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne, stemming from Snider's controversial remarks about Ozzy's songwriting contributions. The dispute began on Wednesday, August 12, after Snider questioned the extent of Ozzy’s involvement in writing his solo material and Black Sabbath songs, suggesting he was not as credited as generally perceived.

The controversy intensified when a fan mentioned late Motörhead bassist/singer Lemmy Kilmister's contributions to Ozzy’s 1991 album, No More Tears, on which Lemmy is credited with co-writing several tracks including “I Don’t Want to Change the World,” “Mama, I’m Coming Home,” the title track, and “Hellraiser,” as noted in Ozzy’s 2025 memoir, Last Rites. Snider responded, stating, “I know too much about the truth behind the scenes. Let’s just say that [Osbourne’s wife and longtime manager] Sharon doesn’t like to share.”

Further elaborating on his claims, Snider addressed a fan’s comment about bassist Bob Daisley writing a “load” for Ozzy before his early 1980s firing. Snider countered, “A load? How about ALL the lyrics? Ozzy always had bass players write his lyrics. [Black Sabbath bassist] Geezer Butler wrote ALL of @BlackSabbath lyrics. Daisley wrote lyrics for the first two solo albums (I’m pretty sure he was paid to write on other records but not credited) & Lemmy wrote lyrics.” The discussion continued into Thursday, August 13, with Snider adding that many singers don’t write their own songs but “make them their own.”

Ozzy Osbourne’s daughter, Kelly Osbourne, swiftly responded to Snider’s comments, which came just over a year after Ozzy’s reported death on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76. In an initial Instagram Story, without explicitly naming Snider, Kelly asserted, “My father’s legacy as a musician, songwriter, singer and bandleader speaks for itself. His friends, those who worked with him, those who loved him and millions of fans around the world that still continue to buy his records know exactly what he meant, what he contributed and what he leaves behind. His legacy will live on eternally.”

Kelly followed up with a more direct and pointed post, taking aim at Snider. She noted, “@deesnider your last hit … not to age myself was the year I was born over 40 years ago,” referencing Twisted Sister’s 1984 anthem “We’re Not Gonna Take It.” Osbourne went on to criticize Snider’s attempt to diminish her father’s achievements, especially since Ozzy is no longer alive to challenge the allegations. She stated Snider could not know the private realities of her father’s life “simply by looking in from the outside or from hearsay from a delusional man with a vendetta against my father.”

Osbourne further challenged Snider by inviting a comparison of their careers, calling it “devastating enough on its own.” She highlighted Snider’s “brief period of mainstream success 40 years ago” versus her father’s nearly six-decade career, which spanned from defining heavy metal with Black Sabbath to building an extraordinary solo career. Kelly suggested Snider’s actions were an attempt to gain attention, asserting that “the music industry moved on from Snider’s commercial peak decades ago, while my father’s name, catalogue and influence still remains globally relevant.” She concluded by stating her father “doesn’t need Dee Snider’s approval” and that “trying to make my father smaller won’t make Dee Snider bigger. It only reminds everyone of the enormous difference between their legacies and further proves just how irrelevant Snider is to the music industry and society as a whole.”

At press time, spokespeople for Osbourne and Snider had not responded to Billboard’s requests for comment, and Billboard could not independently verify Snider’s claims. Snider, known for sharing his half-century-in-the-biz perspective on social media, later attempted to clarify his position on Friday, August 14, as the debate gained traction online. He wrote, “And again. To be clear, I HAVE NOTHING BUT LOVE FOR OZZY. He was always lovely to me. @BlackSabbath changed my life! As a songwriter I can be a little touchy about credit and royalties.” This incident occurs as Snider, 70, recently resigned as Twisted Sister’s lead singer earlier this year due to ongoing “health issues,” including degenerative arthritis requiring multiple operations and heart issues, with Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach slated to replace him for the band’s upcoming 50th-anniversary shows.