When Ozzy Osbourne’s affair with Michelle Pugh drove his wife Sharon to overdose and nearly ended their marriage
Saloni Jha | Jul 23, 2025, 07:40 IST
( Image credit : Indiatimes )
Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne’s 2016 affair with hairstylist Michelle Pugh nearly shattered his four-decade-long marriage to Sharon Osbourne. The betrayal pushed Sharon into a drug overdose and led to a brief separation. As Ozzy’s death is mourned, this chapter resurfaces as a tragic turning point in their turbulent love story.
Legendary metal icon Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away at 76 on July 22, 2025, left behind more than just his music legacy, his marriage to Sharon Osbourne bore scars that never fully faded. One of the most devastating blows came in 2016, when news of his affair with hairstylist Michelle Pugh came to light.
Though the couple had weathered storms before, including Ozzy’s 1989 drug-fuelled arrest for allegedly attempting to strangle Sharon, this infidelity nearly broke them for good. Sharon revealed during her “Cut the Crap” live show in London that the discovery of Ozzy’s long-standing affair drove her to a near-fatal overdose. In a moment of utter despair, she consumed a large quantity of pills.
Reports suggest that Ozzy and Michelle’s affair began in 2012, while Pugh worked as his hairstylist. Their relationship lasted four years and remained under wraps until May 2016. Once Sharon found out, Ozzy reportedly moved out of their home on May 8 that year.
Michelle Pugh later admitted that she had fallen in love with the married singer, stating that the relationship was more than just a fleeting romance. She pushed back against the public’s portrayal of her, saying she was not some gold-digging groupie but someone who had been pursued by Ozzy himself.
Following the affair’s exposure, a spokesperson for Ozzy revealed he was undergoing intense therapy for sex addiction. The representative also implied that Michelle had exaggerated or misunderstood the nature of their connection.
A month later, in July 2016, Ozzy confirmed that he and Sharon were working things out. He admitted their relationship had ups and downs, but insisted they were trying to find their way back to each other.
While the couple ultimately reconciled, the betrayal marked a painful turning point, one that Ozzy was reportedly planning to unpack further in his upcoming memoir.
Now, in the wake of his passing, the haunting memory of that tumultuous period adds another layer of heartbreak to the legacy of the man who once ruled metal, chaos, and love in equal measure.
When Ozzy Osbourne’s affair drove his wife Sharon to overdose | Credit: X/OrthodoxPole81
( Image credit : When Ozzy Osbourne’s affair drove his wife Sharon to overdose | Credit: X/OrthodoxPole81 )
Ozzy Osbourne’s infidelity and the tragic fallout
Though the couple had weathered storms before, including Ozzy’s 1989 drug-fuelled arrest for allegedly attempting to strangle Sharon, this infidelity nearly broke them for good. Sharon revealed during her “Cut the Crap” live show in London that the discovery of Ozzy’s long-standing affair drove her to a near-fatal overdose. In a moment of utter despair, she consumed a large quantity of pills.
When Ozzy Osbourne’s affair drove his wife Sharon to overdose | Credit: X/OrthodoxPole81
( Image credit : When Ozzy Osbourne’s affair drove his wife Sharon to overdose | Credit: X/OrthodoxPole81 )
The affair of Ozzy Osbourne
Reports suggest that Ozzy and Michelle’s affair began in 2012, while Pugh worked as his hairstylist. Their relationship lasted four years and remained under wraps until May 2016. Once Sharon found out, Ozzy reportedly moved out of their home on May 8 that year.
When Ozzy Osbourne’s affair drove his wife Sharon to overdose | Credit: X/OrthodoxPole81
( Image credit : When Ozzy Osbourne’s affair drove his wife Sharon to overdose | Credit: X/OrthodoxPole81 )
Michelle Pugh later admitted that she had fallen in love with the married singer, stating that the relationship was more than just a fleeting romance. She pushed back against the public’s portrayal of her, saying she was not some gold-digging groupie but someone who had been pursued by Ozzy himself.
A “turning point” in Ozzy’s life and marriage
Following the affair’s exposure, a spokesperson for Ozzy revealed he was undergoing intense therapy for sex addiction. The representative also implied that Michelle had exaggerated or misunderstood the nature of their connection.
When Ozzy Osbourne’s affair drove his wife Sharon to overdose | Credit: X/OrthodoxPole81
( Image credit : When Ozzy Osbourne’s affair drove his wife Sharon to overdose | Credit: X/OrthodoxPole81 )
A month later, in July 2016, Ozzy confirmed that he and Sharon were working things out. He admitted their relationship had ups and downs, but insisted they were trying to find their way back to each other.
When Ozzy Osbourne’s affair drove his wife Sharon to overdose | Credit: X/OrthodoxPole81
( Image credit : When Ozzy Osbourne’s affair drove his wife Sharon to overdose | Credit: X/OrthodoxPole81 )
While the couple ultimately reconciled, the betrayal marked a painful turning point, one that Ozzy was reportedly planning to unpack further in his upcoming memoir.
Now, in the wake of his passing, the haunting memory of that tumultuous period adds another layer of heartbreak to the legacy of the man who once ruled metal, chaos, and love in equal measure.
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