Kelly Osbourne's Weight Loss Has Many People Judging — But Are We Asking The Right Questions?

When Kelly Osbourne, the youngest daughter of the late heavy metal rocker Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon, appeared at the Grammys, looking unusually thin in her backless, black, sequined gown, it sent the gossip mill into overdrive, with people commenting on her appearance and suggesting that something was wrong. "Can someone close to Kelly Osborne PLEASE get her some help," wrote X user T. "I'm very concerned." And she wasn't alone in her worry for the reality star. "Bout to fall off the bone," wrote elite_ease."

Can someone close to Kelly Osbourne PLEASE get her some help. I'm very concerned. #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/EoXKL9EAh7

— T (@tmarie1381) February 2, 2026

However, as kim barnes pointed out in the same thread, maybe any concerns for her health are misplaced. "The poor girl is grieving her dad! Leave her alone!" she said. Another X user seemed to echo these sentiments, saying, "people once claimed she was too overweight, and now mad that she's too underweight. just leave people alone and stop commenting on their bodies."

Having people judge her for her weight is nothing new, according to Osbourne, which is one factor most people don't take into account when they claim concern about her health. She shared on "The Osbournes Podcast" that she faced pressure regarding her body size in the early 2000s when her family's reality show rose to fame. "I got pulled into the head of the agency's office and he ... gave me a whole speech about how I was too fat for TV and I needed to lose weight, and that if I lost weight, I would look better," Osbourne revealed (via People).

On a 2022 episode of the "Hollywood Raw Podcast," the former "Fashion Police" host also got candid about her 85-pound weight loss due to gastric sleeve surgery, saying that it made her feel "resentful" because she felt "invisible" before she lost weight. However, she had no regrets about how she did it, saying, "It is the best thing I have ever done." She additionally noted that she had gone to therapy for a year prior to surgery to deal with emotional eating. Osbourne added that surgery was not a "quick fix" and she also had to eat healthy and exercise.

As further evidence of how harmful fat shaming can be, a 2024 study in the Journal of Affective Disorders Report found there was a positive association between body shame and eating disorders. Additionally, a 2019 study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal reported that fat shaming was linked to stress and binge eating, which can contribute to further weight gain and poor metabolic health.

Osbourne also hasn't been shy about addressing the comments on her most recent weight loss, sharing in a since-deleted Instagram video that her critics should "[expletive] off." She then went on to add, "To the people who keep thinking they're being funny and mean by writing comments like 'Are you ill,' or 'Get off Ozempic, you don't look right,' My dad just died, and I'm doing the best that I can, and the only thing I have to live for right now is my family" (via USA Today).

Sabine Horner, a nutritionist with AtaLoss, lends validity to Osbourne's explanation, explaining that when people are going through the early stages of grief, it's not uncommon for them to not feel hungry or feel like they can't swallow food. The stress associated with the loss of a loved one can make food taste different, or people may simply feel too distracted to eat. This lack of appetite can contribute to dramatic weight loss, according to Horner. However, over time, their desire to eat will return. In the meantime, she advises encouraging people who are grieving to sip ginger tea around mealtimes. This will help improve appetite and help keep the individual hydrated.

With this in mind, perhaps Osbourne's fans should consider whether they have been asking the right questions. Maybe rather than adding to her stress regarding her appearance, it would be better to offer kindness and support during what must be a very difficult time for her.