In a heartbreaking twist of fate, Sharon Osbourne’s final social media post before the world learned of Ozzy Osbourne’s passing was a tribute—not to her husband—but to someone else the world had just lost.
On Tuesday, July 22, hours before news broke that her husband of over 40 years had died, Sharon quietly shared a touching Instagram Story honoring actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Warner, best known for his role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, had died just two days earlier in a tragic drowning accident in Costa Rica. He was 54.
The short video clip Sharon posted showed Warner in his car with a yellow flower tucked behind his ear, placed there by his daughter. Smiling warmly, he said he wanted to “spread some love and good cheer” and reminded followers that “no matter what’s going on, there’s always a reason to smile.” He encouraged everyone watching to find a way to make someone else smile, too.
Moved by his message, Sharon captioned the clip simply:
“beautiful. rest in peace. #malcolmjamalwarner”
What was meant to be a moment of quiet remembrance soon took on a much deeper meaning.
Less than two hours later, TMZ confirmed that Ozzy Osbourne—the legendary Black Sabbath frontman and Sharon’s lifelong partner—had passed away at age 76. Surrounded by family, he died peacefully in the UK after years of health battles, including a public Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2019.
The family released a statement, saying:
“It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family’s privacy at this time.”
A Quiet Tribute Before Her Own Storm
The timing of Sharon’s tribute has left many fans struck by the emotional weight of it all. In remembering one life lost, she was unknowingly bracing for the loss of another—her greatest one.
Ozzy’s long battle with Parkinson’s had taken a toll in recent years. In a 2020 Good Morning America interview, he spoke candidly about the frustration of being unable to work:
“Coming from a working-class background, I hate to let people down. I hate to not do my job… I see my wife going to work, my kids going to work, and I can’t contribute. That gets me down.”
But even in his final days, Ozzy remained deeply loved and respected, both as a music icon and a family man.
Now, Sharon’s quiet, heartfelt post—meant to honor someone else—reads like a prelude to her own heartbreak. A quiet farewell before the storm.
