Was Ozzy Osbourne in Israel in 2024?

The Claim and Its Context

A rumor has recently circulated online suggesting that heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne broke a boycott to perform in Israel in 2024. This claim gained traction on social media platforms, particularly on X, where it received significant attention. However, after thorough investigation, this information has been determined to be false.

Ozzy Osbourne, known for his work with Black Sabbath and as a solo artist, passed away on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76. Following the announcement of his death, the false rumor about his alleged performance in Israel spread rapidly. One post on X claimed that "Hardcore Zionist Ozzy Osbourne broke the boycott to perform in Israel in 2024 and urged other artists to do the same, whilst 1000s of children were being massacred." This post had over 612,000 views and more than 11,000 likes at the time of writing. Similar claims appeared on other platforms as well.

Investigating the Claim

Despite the widespread nature of the rumor, there is no evidence that Ozzy Osbourne performed in Israel or anywhere else in 2024. According to available records, he was present at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony that year. If he had performed publicly in Israel, it would have likely drawn significant media attention. However, searches on major search engines such as Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo did not yield any reports of such a performance.

Additionally, there is no mention of a 2024 performance on Osbourne's official website or on Setlist.fm, a crowdsourced concert-tracking platform. His tour history shows that he performed in Israel twice: on September 28, 2010, at Ozzfest in Tel Aviv's HaYarkon Park, and on July 8, 2018, during his "No More Tours 2" farewell series in Rishon Lezion.

Ozzy Osbourne’s Final Performances

In February 2023, Osbourne announced his retirement from touring due to medical issues. In January 2024, his wife and manager, Sharon Osbourne, told Rolling Stone UK that while he would not tour again, they were planning two final farewell shows in Birmingham, England.

Ozzy Osbourne’s final concert appearance was at the "Back to the Beginning" farewell concert in Birmingham on July 5, 2025, where he performed seated due to his health. This marked the end of his long and influential career.

Statements on Israel and Antisemitism

Although Osbourne never performed in Israel in 2024, he did make public statements related to Israel and antisemitism. In February 2024, he refused to allow rapper Ye (formerly Kanye West) to sample Black Sabbath's "Iron Man," stating on X that Ye "IS AN ANTISEMITE AND HAS CAUSED UNTOLD HEARTACHE TO MANY."

In March 2025, Osbourne and his wife signed an open letter with over 200 entertainment and business leaders calling for an independent inquiry into the BBC's handling of its Gaza documentary "How to Survive a Warzone." The letter alleged that the BBC had "a systemic problem of bias against Israel."

Conclusion

The claim that Ozzy Osbourne broke a boycott to perform in Israel in 2024 is false. There is no evidence to support this assertion, and his final performances were in the United Kingdom. While Osbourne made several public statements regarding Israel and antisemitism, there is no record of him performing in Israel in 2024. As his legacy continues to be celebrated, it is important to separate fact from fiction, especially when misinformation spreads rapidly on social media.