Me Too? I17 sacked a few men over it
Sharon on beating sex pests in music industry
SHARON Osbourne says she has axed sex pests in her team over the years for taking advantage of female staff.
And the TV star said she had only survived herself by being “threatening”.
Sharon, 71, who has managed heavy metal singer hubby Ozzy, 74, since 1979, said: “Men take advantage. They always have and they always will.
“The amount of men that have worked for me that have been looking for those young girls. [One employee] has worked for me 40 years and the times I have fired men taking advantage of her, abusing her and trying to ply her with drink.”
In recent weeks, the music world has been rocked by highprofile claims of sexual abuse. R&B singer Cassie filed, then quickly settled, a suit against her former boyfriend and record boss, Sean “Diddy” Combs. Others came forward with suits alleging sexual assault and misconduct against big names including former Recording Academy executive Neil Portnow, who vehemently denies all claims.
Asked if she had ever had a #Metoo moment, Sharon said: “Never… I was too threatening. I’ve never wanted to be shown as vulnerable. When I started there were no other women managers in this genre. It’s tough. That’s why people go, ‘She’s so this, so that’. But you have to be, otherwise people eat you up. It’s survival.”
Sharon spoke after accepting Ozzy’s Icon Award at the Rolling Stone UK Awards in London. The Black Sabbath legend, who released album Patient Number 9 last year, could not travel from their LA home due to health issues.
Sharon said the secret of their 40-year marriage was “acceptance – learning you are not going to change anyone as that’s what you love”. She added: “I adore him. Ozzy is what rock ’n’ roll is all about. He’s wild, he’s fabulous, he’s like a f***ing uncaged animal.”
Sharon will tour her Cut the Crap show next year and move to the UK with Ozzy.