SHARON OSBOURNE cult of celebrity is destroying today's children

Mail Online (UK) ^

[jakerobins]

My husband Ozzy and I once met Andy Warhol. It was in New York in the Eighties, about a year before the artist died, and at the height of Ozzy's solo success.

We had a call from one of Warhol's people saying Andy wanted to meet Ozzy. We were intrigued so we said: 'Let's do it.' First came dinner in a restaurant in Greenwich Village. Ozzy and I sat opposite Warhol, who was exactly like you see him in pictures, only more exaggerated - skinny face, and his collar too big for his neck, so the effect was a bit tortoise-like. Most of the time he didn't say anything, and when he did, it was so quiet you couldn't really hear.

Dinner over, he said he wanted to take us to a Manhattan club. It wasn't long before Ozzy got agitated. 'I'm bored,' he told me. Star appeal: Sharon Osbourne says our obsession with fame has spiralled out of control 'So am I,' I said. 'But we can't leave yet, it would be rude. Just give it another half an hour and then we can disappear.'

[jakerobins]

Ironic isn't it? A woman who decided to put her Children on a TV show in front of Millions......

[freedumb2003]

The definition of Chutzpah:

Someone who kills his parents and then throws himself on the mercy of the court because he is an orphan.

Pretty close, here...

[Eyes Unclouded]

I can totally see that. On the other hand there is a difference between being a fan and being obsessed. I like music for its own value and don’t attach any value to the artists politics or opinions on anything else. Case in point is the song ‘war pigs’ which is a classic jam but I don’t much care for the message.

[isthisnickcool]

Well, as Ozzy would say:

Muzzle mum bettle fizzle do bung wunga wunga....

[truthguy]

I agree that the cult of celebrity is destroying (or helping to destroy) today's children. At least I agree that it's among a number of things that's hurting children. If I could I'd like to shut down the E-Channel, MTV, and VH1. That would go a long way to improving today's kids. But for this woman of all people, who is only famous for being famous to bite the hands that feeds her. Boy that takes chutzpah!

[La Lydia]

But she actually made some excellent points in that article about the limits of self-esteem, and the difference between achievement and fame and celebrity. All in all, that was a pretty good piece.

[mockingbyrd]

Well she did one thing right. Few people know that the Osbornes have a third child, a daughter named Amy, who refused to be on their show. She lived at home with her family, just wouldn’t be filmed.

[BallyBill]

Ozzy has talent as a singer/showman, Sharon comes from a great business family. I still have no bloody idea what Warhol was?

[Doe Eyes]

Someone who kills his parents and then throws himself on the mercy of the court because he is an orphan.

Pretty close, here...

In what way?

That's not at all what I got from this article.

[jakerobins]

That’s true...She was smart enough or Old enough not to want the attention. I agree with her that Children seeking Celebrity for Celebrities sake is not a good value for children. People who emulate celebs like Paris Hilton..ect is a dead end.....But comming from her is a little hollow...

[Vigilantcitizen]

If I could I'd like to shut down the E-Channel, MTV, and VH1. That would go a long way to improving today's kids.

So, it's not the parents responsibilty for allowing their children to watch those channels? Tv channels do not raise children, parents do.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

I still have no bloody idea what Warhol was?

I think he was some kind of spokesman for Campbell's soup.

[ClearCase_guy]

The people who are inside the industry, the people who help make the bad product, the people who profit from the trash -- if those people are willing to stand up and say "We've been producing crap and we recognize that it has caused damage" -- if those people seem to adopt a position that is close to my own, then I will applaud them. I'm not an Osbourne fan, but I'm happy to see this piece.

And while I recognize that parents play a central role in helping their children consume good material, having insiders stand up and say, "This isn't good material' has got to be a plus.

[Tamar1973]

But for this woman of all people, who is only famous for being famous to bite the hands that feeds her. Boy that takes chutzpah!

That is certainly not the case here. She has been Ozzy's manager for over 20 years. A good portion of his success as a singer is because of her. She worked hard and deserves what she has earned.

[j.argese]

Rather than engage in censorship, I think a swift kick to the ass of the offending juvenile would actually do more to improve society. But that’s just me.

[Happyinmygarden]

I still have no bloody idea what Warhol was

LOL

Well, I can tell you that, once upon a time, Warhol owed my daughter's father-in-law some money so to pay the bill he offered to paint his bathroom, which he did. The father-in-law often says, if only he still had those bathroom walls...

[Hegemony Cricket]

"...skinny face, and his collar too big for his neck, so the effect was a bit tortoise-like."

[freedumb2003]

For someone who threw her family children on the throne of celebrity to turn around and tell people that celebrity is worshiped too much by children is as close as it will get to Chutzpah short of my example.

[Doe Eyes]

For someone who threw her family children on the throne of celebrity

I don't agree with that statement.