{"id":644006,"date":"2025-12-20T09:49:14","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T09:49:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/644006\/"},"modified":"2025-12-20T09:49:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T09:49:14","slug":"they-were-trying-to-be-doormen-at-a-party-that-they-werent-invited-to","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/644006\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cThey were trying to be doormen at a party that they weren\u2019t invited to\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yungblud<\/a> has responded to criticism from The Darkness<\/a> following his headline-grabbing Ozzy Osbourne tribute at the 2025 VMAs, dismissing the band\u2019s remarks as little more than gatekeeping from the sidelines.<\/p>\n

The performance in question took place at the VMAs in New York on 7 September, where Yungblud \u2013 real name Dominic Harrison \u2013 joined forces with Aerosmith\u2019s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, alongside Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, to honour the late Prince of Darkness. The tribute earned a warm response inside the room, including from pop heavyweight Ariana Grande \u2013 though not everyone watching was impressed.<\/p>\n

Dan Hawkins<\/a> of The Darkness took to Instagram shortly after, posting images of Yungblud and Ariana Grande alongside a blunt verdict: \u201cAnother nail in the coffin of rock n roll. Cynical, nauseating and more importantly, shit.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

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The criticism didn\u2019t stop there. In a video posted to the Justin Hawkins<\/a> Rides Again YouTube channel, the band\u2019s frontman expanded on his brother\u2019s comments, accusing Yungblud of \u201c[positioning] himself as a natural heir to the Ozzy legacy, having nothing to do with the really important stuff.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

Speaking separately to Classic Rock, Justin doubled down: \u201cIf the future of rock comes from musical theatre and Disney, if this is Ozzy\u2019s heir, we\u2019re in trouble.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

The pair\u2019s comments soon sparked backlash online, with Justin later insisting that \u201cnone of that was intended to incite a feud\u201d.<\/p>\n

Harrison initially addressed the remarks during a conversation with Ozzy\u2019s son Jack Osbourne<\/a>, labelling the criticism as \u201cbitter and jealous\u201d. Now, in a new interview with Billboard<\/a>, the 28-year-old has offered his latest take on the situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe criticism at the VMAs was coming from people that were trying to be doormen at a party that they weren\u2019t invited to,\u201d he says. \u201cThat\u2019s the harsh reality of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rather than viewing the backlash as a setback, Yungblud frames it as evidence that the performance had made an impact: \u201cIf you don\u2019t have that fear that you need to prove something, you\u2019re not on the right path and journey\u201d he explains. \u201cIf people are indifferent about you, then you\u2019re not truly anything at all.\u201d<\/p>\n