{"id":147609,"date":"2025-09-19T15:24:16","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T15:24:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/147609\/"},"modified":"2025-09-19T15:24:16","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T15:24:16","slug":"justin-hawkins-responds-to-backlash-over-yungblud-comments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/147609\/","title":{"rendered":"Justin Hawkins responds to backlash over Yungblud comments"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Justin<\/p>\n

(Credits: YouTube \/ Tom Pallant)<\/p>\n

Thu 18 September 2025 15:03, UK <\/p>\n

The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins has responded to the backlash his comments about Yungblud\u2019s tribute to Ozzy Osbourne<\/a> at the MTV VMAs received.<\/p>\n

With Nuno Bettencourt, Joe Perry, and Steven Tyler at his side, Yungblud honoured the late Black Sabbath frontman at the UBS Arena in New York. The Darkness guitarist Dan Hawkins reacted to the tribute<\/a>\u00a0negatively, deeming it \u201canother nail in the coffin of rock\u2019n\u2019roll\u201d, as well as describing it as \u201ccynical, nauseating and, more importantly, shit\u201d. He concluded by calling those involved \u201ca bunch of bellends\u201d.<\/p>\n

His brother, Justin, then took to his YouTube channel, Justin Hawkins Rides Again, which boasts more than 600,000 subscribers, to add his thoughts. At the time, he compared the performance to a Disney Channel version of metal, adding, \u201cIt doesn\u2019t ring authentic. It\u2019s rock\u2019n\u2019roll, but not as we know it. It kind of has this Disney veneer over the top of it, like it\u2019s rock\u2019n\u2019roll seen through an Instagram filter of some sort.\u201d<\/p>\n

After his comments divided the internet, Justin took to his YouTube channel again to expand on his criticism. He began by reacting to a specific comment that said: \u201cSo let me understand this. Ozzy takes a liking to Yungblud. Yungblud participates in tributes to Ozzy and is running with attention. Now everybody wants to shit on him for it? This world is so fucked, people love nothing more than hating. I like this kid\u2019s spirit and see no reason to criticise the shit out of him for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

After reading that comment aloud, Justin added, \u201cI don\u2019t think I criticised Yungblud\u2019s spirit<\/a>. I admire that as much as the next person. What I was saying was that it comes off like a TV personality doing rock.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continued, \u201cI find it a bit cringe, and the thing about my career is that I\u2019ve done things that are embarrassing or cringe\u2026 [and] everyone\u2019s been really quick to kick the shit out of me. Its got to be said. We can\u2019t live in this culture where criticism is not allowed. When I\u2019ve done embarrassing things, people have called me out, and I appreciate that kind of guidance and criticism. That\u2019s how you become a better artist.\u201d<\/p>\n

A little later, he added, \u201cThe thing about opinions is, I\u2019m allowed mine as well.\u201d Turning again to Yungblud, the star mused, \u201cSomeone like Yungblud should be resilient enough to cope with a little bit of critique because he\u2019s got a huge following and his last few albums have done really, really well.\u201d<\/p>\n

He finished, \u201cHe doesn\u2019t need me to support him\u2026 although I have said positive things about his earlier releases because I think, culturally, he could be quite an important individual. I just don\u2019t think he\u2019s written any good songs yet \u2014 and that\u2019s my opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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