Sharon Osbourne has accepted a public apology and substantial undisclosed libel damages over a newspaper claim that she was driving husband Ozzy 'to destruction'. Her solicitor told London's High Court that the allegations in The Sun in October 2007 were 'entirely without foundation' and were 'obviously extremely distressing, hurtful and damaging'. He said the article claimed that music manager and TV star Sharon, who was not in court, was 'driving her frail husband Ozzy Osbourne to destruction' and was working him 'so hard she will kill him'. It also said that 'Sharon will keep Ozzy on the road until, like Tommy Cooper, he dies on stage'. It alleged that her motivation for forcing him to perform a series of live shows when he was not well enough was to fund her exorbitant spending. Patrick Callaghan, solicitor for News Group Newspapers, which also agreed to pay Sharon's costs, said it sincerely apologised and accepted that the allegations were untrue and ought never to have been published. A spokesman for the Osbournes said: "Sharon is delighted to have won her case. She would prefer not to have to take legal action against the media, but had no alternative in this case. "Sharon and Ozzy are pleased that they can put this matter behind them." Sharon's lawyer said that her distress at the story, entitled 'I fear poor Ozzy will die on stage', was increased as a result of the claims in it made by her estranged brother David Arden. He added that the accompanying photo of Ozzy, captioned 'Pushed too far...Ozzy looking like a man who's had enough...', was actually taken in April 2003. Keep up to date with all the latest American shows. Subscribe to TV&Satellite Week
