Dee Snider Apologizes to Kelly Osbourne Over Ozzy Songwriting Remarks

Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider apologized to Kelly Osbourne on August 18, 2026, following a weeks-long social media dispute over comments he made questioning how much of Ozzy Osbourne’s music the late singer actually wrote himself. Snider posted on X, tagging Kelly directly: “I’m sorry what I said hurt you. It was never my intent. My sympathies on the loss of your dad.”

The exchange began earlier in August 2026 when Snider suggested on social media that Ozzy Osbourne’s songwriting contributions on his solo albums and with Black Sabbath had been overstated in the official credits.

How the Dee Snider and Kelly Osbourne Dispute Started

A fan pointed out that Motorhead’s Lemmy is credited as a co-writer on several tracks from Ozzy Osbourne’s 1991 album “No More Tears,” including “I Don’t Want to Change the World,” “Mama, I’m Coming Home” and “Hellraiser.” Responding on August 12, 2026, Snider wrote, “I know too much about the truth behind the scenes. Let’s just say that Sharon doesn’t like to share,” referring to Ozzy’s wife and longtime manager Sharon Osbourne.

Snider went further, claiming that bassist Bob Daisley wrote the lyrics for Ozzy’s first two solo albums, that Lemmy also wrote lyrics for him, and that Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler “wrote ALL of Black Sabbath lyrics.” He added, “Ozzy always had bass players write his lyrics.”

Kelly Osbourne’s Response to Dee Snider

Kelly Osbourne fired back on Instagram, writing, “My father’s legacy as a musician, songwriter, singer and bandleader speaks for itself,” and that it would “live on eternally.” She also took a direct shot at Snider’s career, writing, “Your last hit… not to age myself was the year I was born over 40 years ago,” and called him “spectacularly classless” for trying to diminish her father’s achievements while he “is no longer here to challenge his allegations.”

She further argued that Snider could not know the private reality of her father’s life, calling him “a delusional man with a vendetta against my father” and claiming the two had met, at most, once.

Dee Snider Tries to Clarify His Comments

On August 14, 2026, Snider attempted to walk back the tone of his remarks, writing, “To be clear, I HAVE NOTHING BUT LOVE FOR OZZY. He was always lovely to me. Black Sabbath changed my life! As a songwriter I can be a little touchy about credit and royalties.”

His eventual apology came after a fan named Steve suggested on X that Kelly was hurt because she saw the comments as diminishing Ozzy’s legacy, not because the songwriting history itself was inaccurate. Snider thanked the fan, replying, “I’ve been looking for the right response,” before posting his apology directly to Kelly.

As of publication, Kelly Osbourne had not publicly acknowledged Snider’s apology. Ozzy Osbourne died on July 22, 2025, at age 76.