Sharon Osbourne has hit out at Amanda Holden after the presenter appeared to call her “bitter and pathetic” over comments she made about Simon Cowell.
The 71-year-old music manager and wife of former Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne said Cowell “doesn’t know how to keep friends” in a conversation with their fellow former X Factor judge Louis Walsh when the pair appeared together on Celebrity Big Brother.
In an article in the Daily Mail, Holden, 53, who is on the judging panel of Britain’s Got Talent alongside Cowell, said: “I hated seeing certain people in a reality show dissing Simon – he’s the person who’s given them all the chances, given them a lot of money and a lifestyle they probably wouldn’t have had.
“It’s bitter and pathetic. It was like Cinderella with her two sisters in the background – just stabby, stabby, stabby.”
Osbourne, who has managed The Smashing Pumpkins and Motorhead, responded to the article in a lengthy post on X, writing Holden did not know her “history in the music industry, my achievements, the artists I have worked with, the shows that I’ve produced, and my global celebrity”.
She said whenever she had seen Holden on television she always thought she was “very beautiful and talented” but told her: “Never make comments about my lifestyle given to me by Simon Cowell.
“It’s demeaning to me and my husband and all the achievements I have made in my life as you’re making yourself look like an ill-informed sycophantic.”
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Osbourne, who starred alongside her family in the 2000s reality show The Osbournes and had her own talk show, said her brand is “known worldwide” and she has been “blessed with an amazing lifestyle throughout my entire life”, with a mansion in Beverley Hills and an English country estate.
“I never discuss money, lifestyle, or positions of power,” she said.
“I find it to be classless and crude.
“However, you’ve now forced my hand to divulge these things to you and I honestly don’t want to seem like I’m bragging, but the truth is my money and success were not due to doing a couple of Simon Cowell talent shows.
“Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed doing them at the time as they were great fun.
“Yes, Simon paid me very well. Probably more than what you’re receiving today, but all of that my darling went on a few handbags.”
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But Holden appeared to stand by her comments following Osbourne’s criticism.
A spokesperson told the Mail: “Amanda is aware of Sharon’s incredible career but, just like her, Amanda will always defend those close to her.”
