without naming the darkness’ dan and justin hawkins directly, yungblud has fired back at the rock stars who heavily criticized his ozzy osbourne tribute at the mtv vmas last month. the backlash began after the british singer delivered a seven-minute medley celebrating ozzy’s legendary career, complete with theatrical visuals, wild energy, and a nod to classic metal stagecraft.
darkness guitarist dan hawkins had called the performance “cynical and nauseating,” adding it was “another nail in the coffin of rock ’n’ roll.” his brother, justin hawkins, doubled down on the criticism, mocking yungblud’s stage presence by comparing him to a “male stripper” and calling the show “101 school of rock stuff” and “the latest in a long line of poseurs.”
yungblud, however, didn’t hold back when addressing the controversy in a recent interview. “i’ve never been about pleasing the gatekeepers,” he said. “rock ’n’ roll isn’t about standing still and waiting for approval from people who think they own it. it’s about energy, rebellion, and connecting with the people who feel like outsiders.”
he went on to stress that his tribute came from a place of respect and love for ozzy osbourne, one of his musical heroes. “some people see performance and emotion as fake because they’ve forgotten what it means to actually feel it,” he added. “i’m not here to impress a few bitter voices. i’m here to speak to the kids who are ready to scream.”
the comments have sparked a wave of debate within the rock community, with fans divided between supporting yungblud’s modern approach and siding with traditionalists like the hawkins brothers. regardless, the feud has reignited discussions about who defines rock’s legacy — its past or its future.
