Did Ozzy Osbourne Sue Donald Trump? The Truth Behind The 'Crazy Train' Feud And The Cease-and-Desist Showdown
The question of whether the "Prince of Darkness," Ozzy Osbourne, ever officially sued former President Donald Trump is a complex one that boils down to a key legal distinction: the difference between a formal lawsuit and a cease-and-desist order. The controversy erupted in 2019 when Trump's social media team used one of Osbourne's most iconic solo tracks, "Crazy Train," in a political video, immediately drawing the fury of both Ozzy and his wife/manager, Sharon Osbourne. As of today, December 22, 2025, no formal lawsuit was ever filed in court, but the legal action taken was swift, public, and definitive, setting a clear boundary against the unauthorized use of the rock legend's music.
The incident highlighted a recurring theme throughout the Trump presidency: the unauthorized use of popular music at rallies and in campaign materials, often leading to public condemnations and legal threats from artists who vehemently disagreed with his politics. The Osbourne family's response was not just a public slam, but a clear legal warning that their intellectual property was not to be co-opted for political purposes, making the "Crazy Train" incident a landmark case in the ongoing battle between musicians and political campaigns.
Ozzy Osbourne: The Prince of Darkness Profile
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is one of the most enduring and influential figures in rock music history, first rising to fame as the lead vocalist of the pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath before launching a massively successful solo career. His life, marked by both musical genius and notorious controversy, is one of rock’s most captivating stories.
- Full Name: John Michael Osbourne
- Nickname: The Prince of Darkness, The Godfather of Heavy Metal
- Born: December 3, 1948
- Birthplace: Aston, Birmingham, England
- Career Milestones: Co-founded Black Sabbath (1968), released debut solo album Blizzard of Ozz (1980), launched the Ozzfest music festival (1996), starred in the reality TV show The Osbournes (2002–2005).
- Spouse: Thelma Riley (m. 1971; div. 1982), Sharon Osbourne (m. 1982)
- Children: Jessica, Louis, Elliot (from first marriage); Aimee, Kelly, Jack (from second marriage).
- Awards & Honors: Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Black Sabbath (2006); UK Music Hall of Fame (2005); Grammy Award winner.
The 'Crazy Train' Incident: Cease-and-Desist vs. Lawsuit
The core of the dispute occurred in July 2019 when Donald Trump posted a video to his Twitter account. The satirical clip, which mocked a technical glitch during the first Democratic primary debate, featured a portion of Osbourne's 1980 hit single, "Crazy Train." The use was immediately flagged by the Osbourne camp as unauthorized and a clear infringement of copyright.
The reaction from Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy’s manager and wife, was swift and unequivocal. She issued a public statement and, crucially, had legal representatives send a formal cease-and-desist letter to the Trump campaign and the White House.
What is a Cease-and-Desist Letter?
This is the critical detail that answers the main question. A cease-and-desist is a legal document sent to an individual or business to stop (cease) an alleged illegal activity and not to take it up again (desist). In this case, it was a demand to immediately remove the video and refrain from using "Crazy Train" or any other Ozzy Osbourne music for political purposes in the future.
- Cease-and-Desist: A formal warning and demand for an immediate stop to activity. It is an out-of-court legal maneuver designed to resolve the issue quickly.
- Lawsuit: A formal legal proceeding initiated in a court of law. It is a much more expensive, public, and time-consuming process.
The Osbournes opted for the cease-and-desist, a powerful legal tool that often carries the implicit threat of a full lawsuit if the demands are ignored. Sharon Osbourne was very clear in her public statements, stating that the unauthorized use of the song was a violation of U.S. copyright law and that Trump was "acting like a fool."
The campaign complied with the demands, and the immediate threat of a full-blown copyright infringement lawsuit was averted. This outcome is common in these types of intellectual property disputes, as political campaigns often prefer to avoid the negative publicity and financial cost of a high-profile legal battle with a rock icon like the "Prince of Darkness."
The Wider Copyright Crisis: Other Artists Who Fought Back
The Ozzy Osbourne/Donald Trump dispute was far from an isolated incident. The unauthorized use of music by political campaigns, particularly the Trump campaign, became a significant issue of copyright infringement throughout the 2016 and 2020 election cycles. This pattern established a high level of topical authority around the issue, with many musicians taking similar action to protect their intellectual property and distance themselves from the political messaging.
The legal issue typically revolves around the difference between a public performance license (which venues like arenas and hotels purchase from performing rights organizations like ASCAP or BMI) and a synchronization license (which is required to pair music with a visual medium, like a campaign video or advertisement). While the venues Trump used often had public performance licenses, the artists argued that the use of their music implied an endorsement or was a violation of their moral rights, which is where the cease-and-desist letters came into play.
Ozzy Osbourne joined a long and distinguished list of artists who publicly demanded that Donald Trump stop using their songs. These artists include a wide range of genres and political leanings, all united by the principle of protecting their intellectual property:
- The Rolling Stones: The band repeatedly threatened legal action over the use of songs like "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Start Me Up," eventually working with BMI to try and block future use.
- Pharrell Williams: After the song "Happy" was used at a rally on the same day as the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, Williams sent a cease-and-desist, stating, "There was nothing 'happy' about the tragic event."
- R.E.M.: Michael Stipe was outspoken against the use of "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)."
- Neil Young: He objected to the use of "Rockin' in the Free World" and later filed a lawsuit against the campaign, though it was eventually dropped.
- Adele: The British singer's team prohibited the use of her songs "Rolling in the Deep" and "Skyfall."
- Elton John: The legendary musician objected to the use of "Rocket Man."
- Céline Dion: Her team objected to the use of her music at a rally in 2024, joining the growing list of performers.
- The Village People: Despite the band’s lead singer Victor Willis initially supporting Trump, he later issued a demand to stop using “Y.M.C.A.” and “Macho Man” for political ends.
The Lasting Impact of the Osbourne-Trump Standoff
The 2019 dispute between Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne and the Trump campaign solidified the "Prince of Darkness" as one of the most vocal opponents of the unauthorized political use of music. While the answer to "Did Ozzy Osbourne sue Donald Trump?" remains a firm "No," the legal action taken—the cease-and-desist—was highly effective in achieving the desired outcome: the immediate removal of the copyrighted material and a public declaration that the Osbournes would not tolerate their work being associated with the campaign.
This incident, along with the numerous others involving high-profile artists, has significantly raised awareness about music copyright and licensing in the political sphere. It serves as a powerful reminder that while a politician may have access to public venues with blanket licenses, the artists themselves retain the moral right and the power to control the narrative surrounding their intellectual property. For fans of the former Black Sabbath frontman, the swift action confirmed that Ozzy Osbourne remains a fiercely independent voice, unwilling to let his music—especially one as iconic as "Crazy Train"—be co-opted without permission.
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