OZZY OSBOURNE Threatens Legal Action Over FOX NEWS Interview

August 24, 2002

OZZY OSBOURNE issued a dramatic legal threat trying to block an interview set for air on Fox News Thursday and Friday, claiming the network conducted the interview with Osbourne under "false" pretenses, according to www.drudgereport.com.

Osbourne's lawyers had fired off a legal warning to Fox — claiming the network will be held to "substantial liability and damages" if the interview aired.

Osbourne claims he agreed to sit with Fox host Greta Van Susteren based on a "representation the interview was to be used, together with interviews by Fox of other public figures, solely in connection with a television show commemorating the 25th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death."

Osbourne says he "never granted Fox permission to use the interview in any other manner and certainly did not authorize Fox to use it in segments or shows profiling him or his family, as an 'Exclusive.'"

The rocker's lawyers warned: "This interview was conducted under false pretenses, in violation of our clients' legal rights and contrary to established journalistic standards, and is being falsely advertised."

A network source told Drudge late Thursday: "This claim is without merit. We plan on running the interview in its entirety tomorrow night on Fox News channel's On The Record with Greta Van Susteren."

In the interview Ozzy Osbourne talks little of Elvis, network sources say, rather he tells Greta how he's cried, prayed and feared for the future since his wife, Sharon, was diagnosed with colon cancer.

"I'm falling apart more than she is, and people say to me, 'Ozzy, you've got to be strong for Sharon.' And I'm not Superman, you know," Ozzy tells Greta.

Industry sources suggest Ozzy took the dramatic legal move to block the interview after realizing the Osbournes are committed to an upcoming exclusive promised to ABC's Barbara Walters.

Ozzy is now asking for "injunctive relief" against Fox — or warns he will demand "compensatory and punitive damages."

In other news, Ozzy and Sharon have issued an official statement regarding the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by former Osbourne bassist Bob Daisley and drummer Lee Kerslake over record royalties and additional credits on the classic Ozzy albums Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of A Madman.

Ozzy and Sharon stated: "This decision recognizes what we have been saying all along: Bob and Lee's lawsuit was vicious and frivolous. It is truly sad that they felt the need to try to strip Ozzy of his credibility as a songwriter and performer. We pity them because the only real success they ever had was when they were session players for Ozzy 22 years ago. Our family feels vindicated that this nightmare has finally come to an end. We are thankful to our legal team and the United States Justice system for ruling fairly on this case."

The Osbournes' lawyer, Orin Snyder of the firm Parcher Hayes & Snyder, stated: "The court's ruling vindicates Ozzy and Sharon 100 percent. It confirms that this 4-year-old case is completely worthless."

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