Justin Bieber closes Instagram carousel with rare vintage snap of himself and the late rock legend

July 28, 2025: On July 26, 2025, Justin Bieber shared a heartfelt tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne on Instagram, ending a candid photo post with a nostalgic behind‑the‑scenes image from their 2011 Best Buy Super Bowl commercial. The final slide, showing Bieber and Osbourne in matching glowing black jumpsuits, struck a chord with fans mourning the loss of heavy metal’s Prince of Darkness.

From Super Bowl Skits to Sentimental Farewell

The picture captured the moment when Bieber and Osbourne teamed up for a tongue-in-cheek ad promoting “5G” and “6G” network upgrades. In the playful scene, Osbourne quips “What the f‑‑‑ is Bieber?” — a callback to his earlier talk-show jab at the pop star.

A Respectful Nod Amid Swag Celebrations

Bieber’s 19-photo carousel focused on his album launch and personal moments—mini golf with Kendall Jenner and affectionate moments with his wife Hailey. Yet ending with the Ozzy photo transformed the post into an emotional tribute, and fans responded with heartfelt messages like “Last pic hit me really hard” and “Respect to the Ozzy photo.”

Remembering Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne died on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76, following a years-long battle with Parkinson’s disease. His farewell concert with Black Sabbath in Birmingham earlier this year was also recorded and will be released as a film in 2026.

Why This Tribute Resonated

Generational bridge: Showcased mutual respect between artists from very different musical spheres.

Timely sentiment: Positioned during grief, the image resonated as a personal farewell rather than publicity.

Symbol of influence: An acknowledgment that Osbourne’s legacy transcends genre and era.

Final Take

Justin Bieber’s tribute—quiet, unexpected, yet deeply poignant—offered a moment of reflection within an album celebration. It showed that even pop stars recognize rock royalty, reminding fans that Ozzy Osbourne’s impact shaped the musical landscape of multiple generations.