Black Sabbath’s final show took place in Birmingham and was streamed online for fans, but one musician in particular had viewers up in arms over their appearance
Black Sabbath’s farewell concert was met with backlash(Image: Getty)
Black Sabbath’s epic final gig was bittersweet for fans, as it marked their last live performance due to Ozzy Osbourne’s health woes.
Though there were touching highlights, including Kelly Osbourne’s tribute to her father, and surprise engagement to boyfriend Sid Wilson, the night wasn’t without controversy.
Fans were already left unimpressed when one controversial supergroup showed up to perform, and one other artist’s surprise cameo sparked an uproar after the fact as well. While video tributes from iconic bands like Metallica and Slayer were well-received, Marilyn Manson’s appearance on-screen wasn’t as well-received by some who were there at the live show, or others who participated via an online stream.
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Manson, 56, appeared via a pre-taped video message, offering his sentiments to Osbourne.
Manson’s inclusion was slammed after allegations against him, which he has denied.(Image: Getty)
“It is a great honor to be here via this video, and I’d like to say congratulations, and I love you very much Ozzy,” he expressed.
But his emergence was met with disdain by online viewers, incensed by numerous sexual abuse claims he’s been facing since 2021—claims that he’s consistently rebutted, reports the Express US.
Social media users were quick to slam his participation in the event.
“Disgraceful that he is on this otherwise outstanding Black Sabbath show,” someone vented on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Eurgh Marilyn Manson making an appearance on the sabbath stream,” another expressed. “F— that guy he’s a piece of s—.”
And a third person simply stated, “Ew mariln manson go away,”.
“Marilyn Manson on the Black Sabbath stream f— off,” a fourth exclaimed.
Manson, whose legal name is Brian Warner, has been embroiled in controversy since 2021, with allegations surfacing from former girlfriend Evan Rachel Wood, who claimed he subjected her to “years” of abuse during their relationship that started when she was 18 and he was 38.
In her 2022 documentary “Phoenix Rising,” Wood asserted that Manson “essentially raped” her on camera during the production of a music video.
“I was coerced into a commercial sex act under false pretenses. That’s when the first crime was committed against me and I was essentially raped on camera,” Wood disclosed at the time.
Manson responded by filing a defamation lawsuit against Wood, which was subsequently dismissed in court. He also faced rape and sexual battery accusations from actress Esme Bianco, leading to an out-of-court settlement.
Additionally, another lawsuit brought forth by an unnamed ex-girlfriend was settled just a week before the scheduled trial.
In Los Angeles, a case against him was dropped in January, after the L.A. County District Attorney concluded that the statute of limitations had expired on the allegations, and there was insufficient evidence to support charges of sexual assault.