Fact Check: Did Ozzy Osbourne die from Covid-19 vaccine complications?

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A viral claim circulating online reports that legendary rocker and “Prince of Darkness” Ozzy Osbourne died from years of illness allegedly caused by the Covid-19 vaccine. However, no official cause of death has been released, and the claim has been widely disputed by credible sources.

Osbourne, who died at age 76 on July 22, had long been open about his extensive health struggles, including a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in 2020 and a history of serious medical incidents dating back decades.

Despite these challenges, Osbourne remained defiant and energetic, performing at his final concert, "Back to the Beginning," on July 5, just 17 days before his death. Surrounded by loved ones, he died after a prolonged battle with multiple health issues that predated the pandemic.

Claim: Ozzy Osbourne died from years of illness caused by the Covid-19 vaccine

Right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones reignited controversy on July 23 by sharing an old article in which Ozzy Osbourne expressed relief after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine. 

Responding to the piece on X, Jones claimed, “The iconic Ozzy Osbourne has died suddenly after years of illness, which mysteriously started after getting vaccinated.” 

He went on to suggest a connection between the vaccine and Osbourne’s health struggles, noting the rock legend had canceled concerts due to blood clots and had a filter placed in his artery to prevent further complications. 

“The Black Sabbath lead singer cancelled concerts after experiencing blood clots in his legs, and had a filter placed in his artery to protect spread to his heart and brain. Ozzy was excited when he first got his shot. He's now dead… Rest in peace Ozzy Osbourne," Jones wrote.

Just days after Jones shared the controversial claim, the post quickly went viral, racking up over 2.4 million views, 2,4K comments, 1,7K reposts, and 6.1K likes. The response was a mix of confusion, skepticism, and belief. One user simply asked, “Is this true?” while another echoed the claim, writing, “Yeah, because the covid vaccine was the most toxic thing Ozzy ever put in his body.”

Others pushed back. “People deserve real answers when patterns like this keep repeating,” one user commented.

Another pointed out, “He was also diagnosed with Parkinson’s in January 2020. Let’s not blame it on the shots, Alex. Just discredits those that actually got injured or worse from them.”

Ozzy Osbourne did not die from complications caused by Covid-19 vaccine

The claim that Ozzy Osbourne died as a result of years-long health complications caused by the Covid-19 vaccine is false, according to fact-checking outlet Snopes. Osbourne’s extensive medical history was well-documented long before the pandemic began and before him receiving the vaccine. He had openly discussed his long-standing health struggles, many of which he attributed to decades of substance abuse.

In January 2020, months before Covid-19 vaccines became available, Osbourne publicly revealed he had been diagnosed with a form of Parkinson’s disease. He explained that the diagnosis followed a 2019 fall that required neck surgery. During the same period, he also battled pneumonia and was admitted to the ICU. His health history also includes a serious quad bike accident in 2003 that nearly cost him his life.

As for the claim that blood clots in Osbourne’s legs were linked to the vaccine, that too is inaccurate. In an August 2019 Rolling Stone interview, well before vaccines were introduced, Osbourne disclosed that the clots developed during his recovery from neck surgery. Therefore, Alex Jones’ assertions not only misrepresent the timeline but also ignore the well-known facts about Osbourne’s health.

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