Sharon Osbourne: The Unapologetic Queen of Controversy

Sharon Osbourne has never been one to shy away from controversy. The outspoken media personality has built her career on being provocative, unfiltered, and unapologetic – cementing her status as the self-proclaimed "queen of controversy."

Born Sharon Rachel Arden in London in 1952, Osbourne is the daughter of legendary music promoter and manager Don Arden. She began working for her father as a receptionist in the late 1960s, learning the ins and outs of the music business. In the 1970s, she took on a more public role as manager for bands like Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) and Black Sabbath.

The Queen of Rock

It goes without saying that Sharon’s life may have been very different, were it not for her most infamous relationship, with her husband Ozzy Osbourne. Brummie legend Ozzy Osbourne rose to fame in the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath. His dark, brooding persona and hedonistic lifestyle cemented his notoriety as the "Prince of Darkness."

Sharon began managing Black Sabbath in 1979 and quickly fell in love with Ozzy, despite him being married at the time. She took over his solo career after he was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979, seeing beyond Ozzy's notorious behaviour, to shape him into a successful solo artist. The two married in 1982, at a time when Ozzy's antics were at their most wild and unhinged. Yet Sharon's love and strict management style kept Ozzy's career on track, despite his battles with drugs and alcohol. To this day, Sharon is known for being the powerhouse behind the infamous Ozzy.

Enter The Osbournes: America (and Britain’s) Most Dysfunctional Family

Sharon Osbourne first came into mainstream prominence in 2002, when MTV gave the family their own reality show, "The Osbournes." The show provided an intimate, and often absurd, look into the domestic life of the very dysfunctional Osbourne family. Viewers were drawn to Sharon's loving-yet-brutal honesty toward her husband and kids, establishing her as the foul-mouthed matriarch of rock and roll royalty.

Sharon is known for her fiercely protective nature when it comes to her family, lashing out at anyone she feels has wronged them. Her devotion as a mother has been a constant even amidst the family's (many) wild antics and controversies. The Osbourne kids all credit their mom for her unwavering love and support through their ups and downs.

The success of The Osbournes led to numerous other television ventures for Sharon. She was a judge on America's Got Talent from 2007 to 2012, Britain's Got Talent, and The X Factor UK. She also had her own talk show, The Sharon Osbourne Show, in 2003.

Controversy Is Never Far Away With The Osbournes

Never one to shy away from controversy, Sharon Osbourne has been at the centre of several high-profile public feuds and scandals over the course of her career.

In 2004, she was accused of assaulting a colleague at X Factor, though no criminal charges were ever filed. In 2007, she faced criticism for making an offensive remark while judging Britain's Got Talent. And in 2011, she briefly left America's Got Talent after a dispute with NBC over comments made about her family.

One of Osbourne's biggest controversies came in 2021 when she defended long-time friend Piers Morgan's controversial comments about Meghan Markle, leading to an intense debate with co-host Sheryl Underwood on CBS' The Talk. After a public fallout, Osbourne exited the show.

Through it all, Osbourne has never backed down from being provocative and speaking her mind. She revels in her outrageous persona, recently proclaiming: “I am the f**king queen of rock and roll. The b**ch is back, and she’s ready to rock.”

"The older I get, the less filter I have."

On Cosmetic Surgery

Sharon Osbourne has been very candid about the extensive cosmetic surgery procedures she has undergone throughout her career. "There's not much I haven't had tweaked, stretched, peeled, lasered, veneered, enhanced or removed altogether," she admitted in one interview.

She's estimated to have spent over $160,000 on plastic surgeries including multiple facelifts, tummy tucks, breast implants, and more. While some celebrities shy away from discussing their cosmetic work, Sharon has been unabashed about her surgical enhancements. “I’m like a patchwork quilt now but so what?... I do think I look good for my age," she stated about her transformed appearance. Her refreshing honesty about going under the knife has made her a rarity among celebrities obsessed with maintaining youthful looks.

Not Slowing Down

Now in her late 60s, Osbourne shows no signs of mellowing with age. She continues to be wildly outspoken and seems to relish her reputation as an unfiltered, unapologetic firebrand in the world of music and entertainment.

She’s shut down critics who accuse her of just seeking attention or controversy: “Everybody has an opinion on my life. People say; 'she’s so outspoken, she wants attention'. I don’t want attention — I just can’t keep my mouth shut. What am I gonna do? Stay quiet about things I believe in?’ That’s not me.”

And she wouldn't have it any other way. As she recently proclaimed: "You may love me, you may hate me, but one thing is for sure, you will never forget me." If anything, she seems more emboldened to speak her mind as she ages. As she said in a recent interview, "The older I get, the less filter I have."

Sharon has joked that many people think she's "lost her marbles over the years." But she counters that she simply has less patience for things she considers "BS" as she gets older. Far from mellowing with age, Sharon seems to be doubling down on her uncensored, unfiltered approach to life. She revels in her "crazy old lady" image and has no plans to temper her outspokenness or stop courting controversy any time soon.

Sharon Osbourne has proven she has no intention of going quietly into her later years. And who can blame her?