Dee Snider Apologizes to Kelly Osbourne Over Comments About Ozzy’s Songwriting

Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider apologized to Kelly Osbourne on August 18, 2026, after a public dispute over whether her late father, Ozzy Osbourne, actually wrote the songs credited to him. Snider posted directly to Osbourne on X, writing, “I’m sorry what I said hurt you. It was never my intent. My sympathies on the loss of your dad.”

• Ozzy Osbourne died on July 22, 2025, at age 76.
• The disagreement began earlier in August 2026 when Snider argued that Ozzy’s songwriting credits across his solo career and with Black Sabbath were exaggerated.
• Snider named bassists Bob Daisley and Lemmy Kilmister, along with Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler, as the true authors of Ozzy’s lyrics.
• Kelly Osbourne fired back on Instagram, at one point calling Snider “spectacularly classless.”

How the Dee Snider and Kelly Osbourne Dispute Started

The exchange took shape when a fan on social media pointed out that Motorhead’s Lemmy holds co-writing credits on several tracks from Ozzy Osbourne’s 1991 album “No More Tears,” among them “I Don’t Want to Change the World,” “Mama, I’m Coming Home” and “Hellraiser.” Responding to that observation 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,” a reference to Ozzy’s wife and longtime manager, Sharon Osbourne.

Snider went further in a follow-up post, arguing that Ozzy “always had bass players write his lyrics.” He credited Geezer Butler with writing all of Black Sabbath’s lyrics, said Bob Daisley wrote the lyrics for Ozzy’s first two solo records, and named Lemmy as another lyricist behind Ozzy’s material.

Kelly Osbourne’s Response to Dee Snider

Kelly Osbourne answered on Instagram, writing that “My father’s legacy as a musician, songwriter, singer and bandleader speaks for itself,” adding that it would “live on eternally.” She also took a personal jab at Snider’s career, telling him, “Your last hit… not to age myself was the year I was born over 40 years ago,” and calling him “spectacularly classless” for trying to undercut her father’s achievements.

She further argued that Snider had no real standing to speak on her father’s private life, describing him as “a delusional man with a vendetta against my father” and claiming the two had crossed paths at most once.

Dee Snider Tries to Clarify, Then Apologizes

On August 14, 2026, Snider attempted to walk back the tone of the dispute without abandoning his claims, posting, “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.”

The full apology followed several days later after a fan named Steve suggested to Snider that Kelly’s hurt stemmed from feeling her father’s legacy was being diminished, not from any dispute over the accuracy of the songwriting history. Snider thanked him, replying, “I’ve been looking for the right response,” before posting his direct apology to Kelly Osbourne on August 18, 2026.

As of publication, Kelly Osbourne had not publicly responded to Snider’s apology.

More Info

• Dee Snider apologises to Kelly Osbourne over Ozzy comments: Im sorry what I said hurt you” | NME
• Dee Snider backs down and apologises to Kelly Osbourne for remarks about Ozzy: Im sorry | Far Out Magazine