WATCH: Rod Stewart's AI video of Ozzy Osbourne taking selfies with music legends sparks backlash

Rod Stewart has come under fire for screening an artificial intelligence-generated tribute video at a recent concert, which portrayed the late Ozzy Osbourne taking selfies with a line-up of deceased music icons. 

The video was shown while Stewart performed his 1988 hit “Forever Young” at the Ameris Bank Amphitheatre in Alpharetta, Georgia, as part of his “One Last Time” tour. 

It featured a digital rendering of Osbourne in what appears to be a heavenly setting, holding a selfie stick and posing with AI-generated likenesses of late stars including XXXTentacion, Prince, Tina Turner, Kurt Cobain, Bob Marley, Tupac Shakur, Michael Jackson, Aaliyah, George Michael, Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse and Freddie Mercury. 

While some fans praised the tribute as touching and nostalgic, others have sharply criticised Stewart for what they perceive as a tasteless and exploitative use of AI, especially in a live concert setting. 

Clips from the concert have circulated widely online, igniting debate around the ethical implications of using digital recreations of deceased individuals without consent from their families or estates. 

“Why is this disrespectful?” one viewer asked sarcastically in the comment section of a snippet posted to Instagram.

“I’m going to use AI to make a video of your dead grandma breakdancing in heaven with Princess Diana and put it on a giant screen as part of my tour that people paid money to see - and I’m going to do it without your knowledge or permission.” 

Some critics have also linked the controversy to Stewart’s age, suggesting that older generations may have a misguided enthusiasm for AI technology.

“Boomers love AI,” one commenter wrote. “You know someone like 65 is filming this at the other side of the venue and crying.” 

Still, Stewart’s fans appeared divided. Several users expressed support on his social media platforms. “LOVED the tribute at your concert,” one person wrote under a recent Instagram post.

Another fan who claimed to have attended the Georgia show described the segment as “tasteful and heartfelt,” adding: “I was impressed by the entire show and tribute.” 

The AI tribute came just days after the death of Osbourne was announced, adding a layer of sensitivity to the timing of the video. 

Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath, passed away on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76. 

According to recent documents, the cause of death was an acute myocardial infarction and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. 

Stewart paid tribute to his late friend on Instagram the same day the news broke.

“Bye-bye, Ozzy. Sleep well, my friend. I’ll see you up there - later rather than sooner,” he wrote, alongside a black-and-white photo of the two musicians. 

While Stewart has not yet publicly responded to the backlash, the incident highlights the growing tension between technological innovation and ethical boundaries in the entertainment industry - particularly as AI tools become more powerful and accessible.

As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether artists will reconsider their use of AI in creative tributes, or whether such digital homages will become a new, controversial norm in memorialising the departed.