A rock legend’s darkest secret exposed? 😱 Days before his de*th, Ozzy Osbourne’s memoir drops bombshells about his affair that nearly destroyed his marriage—and it’s not pretty. Overdoses, heartbreak, and regrets… What truths did the Prince of Darkness confess? Read the shocking revelations

The rock world was still reeling from the death of Ozzy Osbourne on July 22, 2025, when excerpts from his forthcoming memoir, Last Rites: The Final Confessions of the Prince of Darkness, began circulating online and in tabloids. Completed just weeks before his passing at age 76, the book—set for posthumous release in October 2025 with a foreword by his wife Sharon—delves into the darker corners of Ozzy’s life, including a bombshell revelation about his four-year affair with hairstylist Michelle Pugh from 2012 to 2016. This extramarital relationship, which Ozzy describes in unflinching detail, nearly ended his 43-year marriage to Sharon, leading to her suicide attempt and a period of profound regret for the Black Sabbath frontman. The disclosures, leaked by sources close to the publisher and amplified by media outlets like The Sun and Daily Mail, paint a picture of a man haunted by his actions, offering a raw, unfiltered look at the toll of fame, addiction, and infidelity. This article explores the memoir’s revelations, Ozzy’s final reflections, the impact on his family, the publishing controversy, and the broader cultural significance of a rock legend’s confessional swansong in an era hungry for unvarnished truths.

Ozzy Osbourne’s life was a whirlwind of excess, triumph, and turmoil, from his Birmingham factory roots to Black Sabbath’s heavy metal revolution and solo stardom. His previous memoirs, I Am Ozzy (2009) and Trust Me, I’m Dr. Ozzy (2011), were candid about his substance abuse, wild antics, and family struggles, but Last Rites promised to be his most unsparing yet. Ghostwritten with journalist Mick Wall and completed in early July 2025 amid Ozzy’s battle with Parkinson’s disease, the book was intended as a final testament, as Sharon revealed in a Metro UK interview: “Ozzy wanted to set the record straight—no holds barred.” The affair with Pugh, a Los Angeles-based stylist, is a central chapter, described by Ozzy as “the biggest mistake of my life, one that almost cost me everything.”

The relationship began innocently in 2012 when Pugh, then 45, was hired to style Ozzy’s hair for tours and appearances. What started as professional camaraderie escalated into a passionate affair, fueled by Ozzy’s loneliness during Sharon’s absences and his ongoing battles with addiction. In leaked excerpts published by Daily Mail on July 26, 2025, Ozzy writes: “Michelle made me feel alive again, like I was 20 and invincible. But it was all an illusion—a selfish escape from the pain of my body breaking down.” The affair spanned four years, involving secret rendezvous in hotels and Ozzy’s Los Angeles home, until Sharon discovered incriminating texts in 2016. The fallout was catastrophic: Sharon, devastated, overdosed on pills in a suicide attempt, as she later confirmed in her 2017 memoir Unbreakable. Ozzy’s account corroborates this, adding new details: “I found her unconscious, foaming at the mouth. In that moment, I realized I’d become the monster I always sang about.”

The memoir doesn’t shy away from the affair’s ugliness. Ozzy admits to lying to Sharon, manipulating situations to meet Pugh, and even considering leaving his marriage. He describes Pugh as “kind and understanding,” but regrets the pain inflicted on his family, particularly his children Kelly, Jack, and Aimee. “I was a selfish prick,” he writes bluntly, echoing his trademark candor. The revelations extend beyond the affair, touching on Ozzy’s history of infidelity, including flings during his first marriage to Thelma Riley and early days with Sharon. But the Pugh scandal stands out for its proximity to Ozzy’s health decline, as he notes: “Parkinson’s was kicking my ass, and instead of facing it, I ran into someone else’s arms.” These admissions, coming days before his death, add a layer of tragic irony, as if Ozzy sought absolution in his final act of storytelling.

Sharon Osbourne’s involvement in the memoir is particularly poignant. Despite the affair’s near-destruction of their marriage—they separated briefly in 2016 before reconciling—Sharon penned the foreword, calling it “Ozzy’s truth, raw and real.” In a People magazine excerpt released on July 28, 2025, she writes: “Forgiveness isn’t forgetting; it’s choosing love over pain. Ozzy’s mistakes made us stronger.” The couple’s reconciliation, including a vow renewal in 2017, is detailed in the book, with Ozzy crediting Sharon as his “rock”: “Without her, I’d be dead a thousand times over.” Their children have mixed reactions; Kelly Osbourne, in an Instagram post on July 27, 2025, supported the memoir: “Dad’s story needs to be told—warts and all.” Jack, however, told Variety the revelations were “tough to relive,” highlighting the family’s ongoing healing.

The memoir’s timing—finished amid Ozzy’s final health struggles—has sparked controversy. Critics, like The Guardian‘s music columnist Alexis Petridis, argue it exploits Ozzy’s vulnerability: “Dying confessions sell books, but at what cost to his dignity?” Publisher HarperCollins defended the release, stating in a July 29, 2025, press release: “Ozzy wanted his fans to know the man behind the myth.” Leaks, possibly from advance copies, fueled tabloid frenzy, with The Sun headlining “Ozzy’s Deathbed Confessions: Affair That Broke Sharon.” Social media buzz, with X hashtags like #OzzyMemoir and #PrinceOfDarkness trending, shows fans divided: some praise the honesty, others decry the sensationalism. A YouTube video titled “Days Before Death, Ozzy Osbourne’s Memoir Reveals The Truth About His Secret Affair” amassed 2 million views in 48 hours, blending excerpts with archival footage.

The affair’s revelation isn’t entirely new—Ozzy discussed it in 2017 interviews—but the memoir provides unprecedented detail, including Pugh’s perspective via alleged emails quoted in the book. Pugh, now 54 and out of the spotlight, has not commented publicly since 2016, when she told People the relationship was “more than sex.” Ozzy’s account portrays her sympathetically but emphasizes his accountability: “I used her to fill a void, and that’s on me.” This nuance adds depth, humanizing a scandal that once dominated headlines.

Culturally, Ozzy’s memoir resonates in a 2025 landscape of unfiltered celebrity confessions, from memoirs like Britney Spears’ The Woman in Me to viral scandals like the Coldplay kiss-cam exposure. His words echo a generation of rock stars confronting their demons, as seen in Keith Richards’ Life or Elton John’s Me. Ozzy’s legacy—Black Sabbath’s pioneering sound, solo hits like “Crazy Train,” and reality TV fame via The Osbournes—is burnished by this honesty, reminding fans of his Birmingham roots and working-class grit. The book’s proceeds, partially donated to Parkinson’s research per Sharon’s announcement on The Talk revival, add a redemptive layer.

The memoir’s impact on Ozzy’s family is profound. Sharon, 72, has been vocal about forgiveness, telling Hello! in June 2025: “We’ve survived worse—affairs, addictions, accidents.” Yet, the revelations coincide with her grief, as seen in her tearful Instagram post on July 23, 2025: “Ozzy was my everything, flaws and all.” Kelly and Jack’s support suggests healing, but Aimee’s silence hints at lingering pain from the family’s public scrutiny.

Publishing-wise, Last Rites is poised for bestseller status, with pre-orders surging post-leak. HarperCollins’ marketing, including a virtual launch with Iommi and Butler, capitalizes on the buzz. Critics like Rolling Stone‘s David Browne predict it will “redefine rock memoirs,” praising its unflinching gaze.

In a broader sense, Ozzy’s confessions reflect 2025’s appetite for authenticity amid polished social media facades. His affair revelation, days before death, serves as a cautionary tale of fame’s double edge—excess enabling mistakes, but vulnerability fostering connection. As fans mourn at Black Sabbath Bridge or stream his final concert, the memoir ensures Ozzy’s voice endures, raw and unrepentant.

Ozzy Osbourne’s life was a symphony of chaos and triumph, and Last Rites is its coda. His revelations about the Pugh affair—heartbreaking, honest, and unflinching—offer closure, reminding us that even the Prince of Darkness sought light in his final days. As Sharon writes in the foreword: “Ozzy lived without regrets, but with lessons learned.” In death, his truth lives on, a testament to a legend who bared it all.