Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne’s Longstanding Euthanasia Pact Resurfaces Following Rock Legend’s Death

The recent passing of Ozzy Osbourne at age 76 has brought renewed attention to a deeply personal agreement he once made with his wife, Sharon Osbourne — a pact centered around euthanasia.

The former Black Sabbath frontman died on Tuesday, surrounded by close family and loved ones. Just weeks prior, he made a final public appearance during a farewell concert in Birmingham on July 5, where he remained seated throughout due to ongoing health struggles. Having battled Parkinson’s disease for several years and undergone numerous surgeries, Ozzy’s health had been steadily declining.

His family released a heartfelt statement confirming his passing:
“It is with more sadness than words can express that we share the loss of our beloved Ozzy Osbourne. He passed away this morning, surrounded by family and love. We ask that our privacy be respected as we grieve.”
The message was signed by Sharon, and children Jack, Kelly, Aimee, and Louis.

Back in her 2007 autobiography Survivor: My Story – The Next Chapter, Sharon Osbourne revealed that she and Ozzy had made an agreement years earlier to consider assisted dying if either of them were ever diagnosed with a debilitating brain condition, such as dementia. Sharon, whose father suffered from the disease, said she couldn’t bear the thought of enduring — or putting her family through — a similar decline.

“If this is what’s ahead for me, I’d rather not go through it,” she wrote. “I’ve discussed it with my family. We agreed that if I ever reach that point, we’d go to Switzerland, where euthanasia is legal, and allow me to die with dignity.”

In a later interview with The Mirror, Sharon confirmed she and Ozzy had jointly committed to this plan:
“We both completely support euthanasia. If either of us is diagnosed with something like Alzheimer’s, we’ve agreed we would travel to Switzerland’s assisted dying facility and say goodbye there.”

She explained that they had even sat down with their children to explain their decision. “We told the kids around the kitchen table, and they understood. They support us.”

The motivation behind this pact, Sharon said, was shaped by watching her father’s rapid cognitive decline.
“He became unrecognizable — unable to walk, communicate, or function. It broke my heart. I couldn’t put my family through that,” she explained.

Though she viewed cancer as a disease where people can still express themselves, dementia, in her words, “erases who you are.” That fear led her and Ozzy to consult lawyers and make legal arrangements years ago.

Ozzy first publicly shared his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2019. The condition affected his mobility and required a series of complex spinal surgeries. While the family has not confirmed a cause of death, his deteriorating health had been in the news for much of 2025.

Despite their earlier public comments, daughter Kelly Osbourne pushed back on reports of a so-called “suicide pact.” In a social media post, she slammed such claims as misleading:
“Stop saying my parents have some kind of suicide pact,” she wrote. “That was something my mom said a long time ago just to be dramatic. It’s not true.”

However, Sharon revisited the topic in 2023 during an episode of The Osbournes Podcast. She once again emphasized her belief in dignity in death:
“Mental suffering can be just as painful as physical suffering. If you’re enduring both — it’s goodbye.”

When challenged by her daughter about whether it was worth trying to survive even in poor health, Sharon candidly responded:
“What kind of life is it if you can’t feed yourself, clean yourself, or control your body anymore?”

Ozzy himself echoed similar sentiments in a 2014 interview with the Daily Mirror, stating that if he ever faced a situation where he was no longer able to care for himself, he’d prefer to end his life on his own terms.
“I’m not talking about money — I mean quality of life. If I’m hooked up to machines and can’t do anything for myself, I’ve told Sharon to let me go,” he said.
He also revealed that his will designated Sharon as the primary beneficiary, and ultimately, everything would be passed down to their children.

Ozzy Osbourne’s death marks the end of an era in rock music — but it also reopens conversations about how we choose to face our final chapter, and the importance of making those decisions while we still can.