As tributes pour in for the Prince of Darkness following reports of his death, a controversial quote from Ozzy Osbourne has resurfaced — and it’s rekindling a decades-old debate about faith, blasphemy, and the fine line between rock rebellion and spiritual disrespect.

Ozzy, who built a legacy on biting the head off a bat and turning shock into showmanship, once made a statement about his beliefs in a 2002 interview that is now sparking renewed outrage. The quote?

“I do believe in a higher power, but I don’t think it’s some guy on a cloud getting blowjobs from chicks with wings.”

The blunt, irreverent remark — classic Ozzy — was largely ignored at the time as yet another wild quote from a man known for living on the edge. But now, in the solemn silence following his passing, it’s hitting differently. Religious leaders, especially within conservative Christian communities in the U.S. and U.K., are calling the quote “vile,” “disrespectful,” and “a final insult to faith from a man who spent his life mocking it.”

Reverend Thomas Keegan, a spokesperson for the Global Anglican Fellowship, spoke out just hours after the quote began trending on Threads and X (formerly Twitter):

“Ozzy Osbourne was a gifted performer, but that does not excuse this level of spiritual vulgarity. He may have believed in a higher power, but this quote shows a gross misunderstanding — or worse, contempt — for what many hold sacred.”

Fans, however, are divided. While some agree that Ozzy’s words were “too far,” others defend the statement as a metaphor, a rebellion against organized religion rather than belief itself. Many longtime Osbourne supporters point out that despite his dark image, the rock legend often spoke about spirituality, the afterlife, and his personal struggle with faith in surprisingly sincere tones.

In a 2010 interview, Ozzy said,

“There has to be more than this. I’ve done enough drugs to kill a horse, and I’m still here. Something’s watching over me — I just don’t think it’s the man-made version of God.”

That tension — between reverence and rejection, between belief and satire — defined much of Osbourne’s public persona. He was baptized a Catholic as a child, dabbled in mysticism, and at various points in his life claimed to pray daily. But he also built a career on challenging taboos, often positioning himself as a spiritual outcast.

The resurfaced quote, however, has prompted speculation that Ozzy’s personal beliefs were more complex — and darker — than previously understood. Some fans even suggest the timing of its reappearance is no coincidence, claiming the media is using it to “cement the myth” of Ozzy as anti-religious in death the same way he was often portrayed in life.

But others see something else in the quote: satire. Music journalist Elaine Rourke commented:

“Ozzy’s quote is less about mocking God and more about mocking our cartoonish image of God. He was challenging the idea that religion has to be sanitized, gendered, and exclusive. That’s something we’re still wrestling with today.”

Meanwhile, social media is exploding with polarized reactions. Some Threads users are demanding the quote be removed from circulation out of respect for his family. Others are printing it on T-shirts. One viral post read:

“Ozzy Osbourne said more about religion in one crude sentence than most pastors say in a lifetime.”

As the world continues to mourn the death of one of rock’s most iconic and misunderstood figures, his legacy — much like his music — refuses to stay quiet.

The hearse may have left, but the echo of Ozzy’s voice, provocative and unapologetic, still haunts the public conscience.

Was Ozzy Osbourne mocking God?

Or was he, in his own chaotic way, trying to reach Him?

More to come…