Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne slammed President Donald Trump for playing the song “Crazy Train” in a video he tweeted Thursday following the 2020 democratic debates.
The video clip, which had been altered and was posted by Trump on Thursday morning, incorporates footage of the first round of primary Democratic debates that took place Wednesday night, and shows Trump appearing at the debate with Osbourne’s 1980 hit playing in the background. Trump posted the video as a jab at NBC after the network experienced technical difficulties during their live coverage — a snafu that forced the network to cut to a commercial break. The edited clip is one of two tweets Trump posted from the debates criticizing NBC’s debate moderators Rachel Maddow and Chuck Todd.
“Thank you, @MSNBC, real professionals! @chucktodd @maddow,” Trump tweeted.
Thank you @MSNBC, real professionals! @chucktodd @maddow pic.twitter.com/7ZCkcUQ4yA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 27, 2019
“Based on this morning’s unauthorized use of Ozzy Osbourne’s ‘Crazy Train,’ we are sending notice to the Trump campaign (or any other campaigns) that they are forbidden from using any of Ozzy Osbourne’s music in political ads or in any political campaigns,” the Osbournes wrote in a statement. “Ozzy’s music cannot be used for any means without approvals.”
“Perhaps he should reach out to some of his musician friends. Maybe Kanye West (‘Gold Digger’), Kid Rock (‘I Am the Bullgod’) or Ted Nugent (‘Stranglehold’) will allow use of their music,” the couple continued later in the statement, as a cheeky rib at artists that have shown vocal support for the president.
This isn’t the first time public figures have called out Trump for using their copyrighted content or images to push his own agenda on social media. Queen, R.E.M, Neil Young, Everlast, and Aerosmith are among many celebrities who have pushed back after the president has used their music without permission.
Sharon Osbourne hasn’t been quiet about her disdain towards the president. Despite making a cameo on his reality series “The Apprentice,” she has since voiced her concerns surrounding his policies and leadership style.
“It’s kind of fearful,” she said during an interview on Larry King following his entry into the White House. “I know a lot of my friends are fearful. We kind of wake up every day and go, ‘What’s gonna happen now?’ You don’t feel secure that everything will be smooth and people are in control of what they should be in control of and running it professionally.”
