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The Darkness’ Dan Hawkins hits out at Yungblud and Aerosmith members’ VMAs tribute: “What a bunch of bellends”
The Darkness‘ Dan Hawkins has hit out at Yungblud and Aerosmith members’ tribute to Ozzy Osbourne at the MTV VMAs, calling them a “bunch of bellends”.
Yungblud (real name Dominic Harrison) joined forces with Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Extreme’s Nuno Bettencourt to honour the late Prince Of Darkness at this year’s ceremony, which took place in Long Island, New York last night (September 7).
- READ MORE: MTV VMAs 2025: Watch all of the performances
Together, the musicians covered Osbourne’s solo classics ‘Crazy Train’ and ‘Mama, I’m Coming Home’, as well as Black Sabbath‘s ‘Changes’.
Yungblud performed his Osbourne-approved version of the latter track at Black Sabbath’s final-ever show in July, along with Bettencourt and others. He later officially released the cover, and broke down in tears when performing it on tour in the US. Sabbath’s Geezer Butler called the gig the “best show I’ve seen in years”.
Today (September 8), The Darkness’ Dan Hawkins – the younger brother of frontman Justin – shared a brief clip of Yungblud and co’s VMAs 2025 tribute. The video included Ariana Grande’s astonished reaction to the performance.
But Hawkins was less than impressed, and shared some scathing criticism in the caption. “Another nail in the coffin of rock n roll,” he wrote. “Cynical, nauseating and more importantly; shit.”
He added: “Makes me sick how people jump on this shit to further their own careers. #whatabunchofcunts.” You can see the post above, and watch the VMAs performance in full.
Hawkins received some backlash in the comments section, with one follower writing: “I don’t understand what pisses you off here. All of these dudes performed with and for Ozzy at his Back To The Beginning concert and are friends of his […] The VMAs wanted to honour Ozzy and his legacy! I love you, dude, but I don’t get it!”
In response, another user suggested that the dig was “not about them” and was instead “about Ariana Grande“. Someone else posted: “Hope you’re talking about Ariana and not the performance? If so wtf?”
Others, meanwhile, agreed with Hawkins. “Spot on Dan. This was the least rock n roll thing I’ve ever seen. Looks like a scene from iCarly,” one commented. Elsewhere, a follower hit out at Yungblud’s “absolutely fake contrived emotion” and “hugely privileged beginning that most people trying to get into the arts do not have”.
Replying to the latter, an Instagram user countered: “Gotta disagree with you there bud. You can be reasonably well off and troubled at the same time.”
Ahead of the appearance, Yungblud said: “I’ll try my best to do you proud Oz. Tune in from up there. I love you forever.”
Shortly after Osbourne’s passing on July 22, Yungblud vowed to play his ‘Changes’ cover “every night for the rest of my life”. More recently, he looked back on the best advice the late icon ever gave him.
Speaking to NME last month, Yungblud said: “Ozzy was always my north star. Ozzy Osborne and David Bowie meant everything to me. Ozzy was a character in my life who was a reflection of everything I went through.
“I was always a bit over the top. I was always seen to be a bit crazy. I was always seen to be a bit loud, but when some people saw that as a negative, Ozzy would provide me with the hope that there was an avenue for someone like me in the world.”
He went on to say that Osbourne’s death was “still raw”, adding: “It’s been a very weird couple of weeks. But losing someone I admired and got to know really made me think about the idea of legacy and connection with people. All that matters is the connection with them.”
When backstage at the ‘Back To The Beginning’ event in Birmingham, Yungblud gifted Osbourne a custom-made gold cross.
When filming the music video for Yungblud’s ‘The Funeral’ – in which he cameos alongside his wife, Sharon – the Black Sabbath legend gave the Doncaster artist a cross and said: “I hope this brings you luck”.
Last night’s MTV VMAs also saw Mariah Carey go viral with her “bare minimum” live medley of hits, Doja Cat deliver an ’80s-inspired airing of ‘Jealous Type’ with the help of Kenny G, and KATSEYE play ‘Gnarly’ and ‘Gabriela’.
Also taking to the stage were the likes of Lola Young (who was nominated for Best New Artist and Best Alternative), Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McRae (who won Song Of The Summer with ‘Just Keep Watching’), Busta Rhymes (winner of the MTV VMA Rock The Bells Visionary Award) and J Balvin (who was nominated for Best Latin). You can watch all the performances here.
The post The Darkness’ Dan Hawkins hits out at Yungblud and Aerosmith members’ VMAs tribute: “What a bunch of bellends” appeared first on NME.
