Ozzy Osbourne Slams Kanye West: 'I Want No Association With This Man'

Heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne has fired at Kanye West after the rapper and singer allegedly used an unauthorised sample of a Black Sabbath track.

“Kanye West asked permission to sample a section of a 1983 live performance of ‘War Pig’ [sic] from the US Festival without vocals & was refused permission because he is an antisemite and has caused untold heartache to many,” Osbourne wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter), all in capital letters. “He went ahead and used the sample anyway at his album listening party last night. I want no association with this man!”

As Rolling Stone reports, Osbourne didn’t actually perform War Pigs at US Festival in 1983, and video footage of West’s alleged unauthorised sample of the track hasn’t surfaced on social media yet. However, West did sample the Black Sabbath hit Iron Man at his Vultures Listening Party event with Ty Dolla $ign (the duo’s moniker is ¥$) on Thursday (8 February).

Update: Ozzy has referenced the correct song in a new tweet. You can read it below.

The sample appears in the rap duo’s unreleased track Carnival, which the pair debuted in Chicago on Thursday night. You can view the performance below (at the 1:16 mark).

CARNIVAL

KANYE WEST x TY$ x CARTI

VULTURES LP CHICAGO pic.twitter.com/ZFjgbl4s6X

— Rumlar (@yzystotle) February 9, 2024

West previously, and legally, sampled Iron Man on his 2010 song Hell Of A Life.

Ozzy has received support and blowback for his position against West, with some commenters on social media reminding the Prince of Darkness that he and his wife, Sharon Osbourne, dressed up as West and his wife, Bianca Censori, last Halloween.

Ye was dropped by Adidas and his record label, Def Jam Recordings, in October 2022. The end of partnerships with Adidas and Def Jam followed Ye’s getting locked out of Facebook and Instagram after spouting antisemitic rhetoric. In December 2022, he appeared on Alex Jones's InfoWars, where he explicitly and repeatedly affirmed his admiration for Hitler and denied that the holocaust ever happened.

Following his suspension on Instagram, West took to Twitter to continue his antisemitic agenda, tweeting: "I'm a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I'm going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE. The funny thing is I actually can't be Anti Semitic because black people are actually Jew also You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda." 

While West recently asked for forgiveness in a since-deleted Instagram post, he recently shared a photo wearing a Burzum t-shirt, plugging the Norwegian metal artist (Varg Vikernes) who has also been fined for alleged antisemitism and imprisoned for the murder of Mayhem guitarist Øystein "Euronymous" Aarseth and the arson of three churches.

Last February, Osbourne announced his retirement from touring in an emotional statement.

“This is probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to share with my loyal fans,” Osbourne wrote.

“As you may all know, four years ago this month, I had a major accident where I damaged my spine. My one and only purpose during this time has been to get back on stage. My singing voice is fine. However, after three operations, stem cell treatments, endless physical therapy sessions, and most recently groundbreaking Cybernetics (HAL) Treatment, my body is still physically weak.”

. @KANYEWEST ASKED PERMISSION TO SAMPLE A SECTION OF A 1983 LIVE PERFORMANCE OF “IRON MAN” FROM THE US FESTIVAL WITHOUT VOCALS & WAS REFUSED PERMISSION BECAUSE HE IS AN ANTISEMITE AND HAS CAUSED UNTOLD HEARTACHE TO MANY. HE WENT AHEAD AND USED THE SAMPLE ANYWAY AT HIS ALBUM…

— Ozzy Osbourne (@OzzyOsbourne) February 9, 2024