Sharon Osbourne To AEG Following Lawsuit Dismissal: ‘Bite Our A–holes!’
The lawsuit between Ozzy Osbourne and entertainment giant AEG may be over, but it doesn't mean the fireworks have ended. The Osbourne legal team filed to dismiss the case this past Friday (Sept. 21) after word that AEG had decided to drop their block booking policy. "Sharon and Ozzy are pleased there is nothing left to litigate," said Osbourne's lawyer Dan Wall in a statement at the time. It could have ended there, but AEG issued a statement to Billboard after news of the lawsuit dismissal claiming victory and also stating that they felt the suit was initiated by competitor Irving Azoff and paid for by MSG and Live Nation. They also stated that they felt Osbourne didn't realize what he had gotten himself into with the lawsuit, a comment that didn't sit well with Sharon Osbourne.
"We were fully prepared to see the case through to vindicate our policy, but now that Osbourne has decided to dismiss with prejudice, the case is over," stated AEG, later adding, "The Osbourne suit was instigated by Azoff and paid for by MSG and Live Nation. It was hatched on the back of an artist who we believe had no idea what he was biting off. The suit was a transparent public relations ploy that failed to pressure AEG into backing down from a booking policy that was an effective competitive response to the MSG-Forum tie."
However, Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy's wife and manager, has issued her own statement in response to AEG's comments. It reads as follows:
We know Mr. Anshultz (aka "Daddy Big Bucks") is living in his billionaire bubble, but the fact is that Ozzy sued AEG for the right to perform at the O2 in London. We won the case and Ozzy's show at the O2 went on sale on September 5 for a show next year (February 11, 2019)--so in my world that means we won the case. Ozzy is playing the O2 without having to play the Staples Center, which is all that mattered to us. From the start of this dialogue in February, this has been a battle about respect for the artists and their personal preferences. It wasn't then and isn't now a battle between promoters, which is how this is being portrayed by the recent statement from AEG claiming this as a "victory."
To say that this "suit was instigated by Azoff and paid for by MSG and Live Nation," and that "it was hatched on the back of an artist who we believe had no idea what he was biting off," is untrue and disrespectful to Ozzy, myself and the entire team working on this tour. Whatever differences you have with Irving Azoff, don't presume you know who instigated the lawsuit or you know anything about Ozzy Osbourne, because you obviously don't know anything about Ozzy's history or mine. So stop with your hubbildy, bubbuldy BULLSHIT and your little pissing contest with Live Nation and MSG.
Regarding the allegations in the AEG statement that this "suit was a transparent public relations ploy," if that was indeed the case, why then did AEG rush out a statement of victory? While we, throughout this process, until now have only made one statement around the initial filing.
Ozzy's preference was to perform at The Forum, a venue that has been a part of his music history for more than 46 years. From the start, this was not a battle solely for Ozzy, as much as one for other artists who were being forced to abide by these rules and regulations. Let's not all forget why you're here...the artists.
The only thing remotely interesting in your statement was your pitiful attempt at humor with your quote that Ozzy "had no idea what he was biting off." If you're interested, Ozzy and I have got something nice for you bite on...our assholes...see ya loser!
While AEG dropped their block booking of London's O2 Arena with Los Angeles' Staples Center, they did reveal in their statement that they would reinstitute it if they felt Azoff / MSG were pressuring artists into playing the Forum in Los Angeles in return for a Madison Square Garden show in New York.
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