On August 26, 2025, during WWE RAW in Birmingham, England, Becky Lynch delivered a promo referencing the late Ozzy Osbourne that has triggered widespread backlash. The segment included a remark that sparked outrage from Ozzy Osbourne’s family and fans, prompting WWE to consider issuing an apology for the incident. The situation centers on the sensitive comments made about Osbourne and the city of Birmingham, bringing the Becky Lynch Ozzy Osbourne controversy into the spotlight.
Details of the Provocative Statement and Immediate Reaction
In the promo, Lynch stated,
The only good thing that came out of here died a month ago. But in fairness to Ozzy Osbourne, he had the good sense to move to LA, a proper city, because if I lived in Birmingham, I’d die too.
This comparison offended many, particularly Kelly Osbourne, Ozzy’s daughter, who responded vehemently via Instagram Stories,
You’re a disrespectful dirt bag. Birmingham wouldn’t pee on you if you were on fire. Birmingham forever. Shame on WWE for allowing such things to be said about my father and his home.
WWE’s Internal Response and Public Apology Discussions
Wrestling insider Bryan Alvarez revealed on Wrestling Observer Live that WWE is embarrassed by the controversy and has held talks about offering an apology. Alvarez explained,
They may not, but if you look back at how many times WWE has actually apologized for something, it ain’t many. There’s discussion about a public apology, and I know they’ve talked about doing a private apology.
He also suggested that the promo was unlikely Lynch’s idea, noting,
I don’t even really blame Becky, as I’m sure she didn’t come up with it, but she did it. The people don’t want to boo Becky. She really wants to be booed for whatever reason. I guess maybe it’s fun. Probably isn’t fun today.
Industry Opinions on the Use of Sensitive Material in Wrestling
Former WWE star Lance Storm criticized the decision to use Ozzy Osbourne’s passing for controversy, labeling it as in poor taste. Storm stated,
Unless you have explicit permission from the family, I think using someone’s passing for cheap heat is bad. It just makes wrestling feel low brow and cheap when they do stuff like that, and I wish they wouldn’t.
This view highlights the wider discomfort within the wrestling community about leveraging real-life tragedies for entertainment purposes.
Implications and Next Steps for WWE
As WWE has not yet released an official statement, the potential apology and WWE’s handling of the matter remain uncertain. The backlash underscores the risks when wrestling storylines cross sensitive real-life boundaries. How WWE navigates this controversy may influence future creative decisions and the company’s relationship with fans, especially when involving references to respected public figures like Ozzy Osbourne.
