Ripple CTO Regrets the Time He Censored Ozzy Osbourne’s Words
David Schwartz reveals regret over censoring the late rock legend's authentic voice
Ripple's Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz, recently disclosed a surprising confession: he once falsified fan questions and censored responses from rock legend Ozzy Osbourne during a live Q&A session. This revelation surfaced following Osbourne’s passing at 76.
Schwartz shared his remorse publicly, reflecting on his role at WebMaster, where he managed a fan interaction event for Black Sabbath. Despite the intent of providing fans genuine engagement, Schwartz admitted, “I cheated.” He was tasked with gathering real-time responses from the band members over the phone but soon faced a dilemma—fans solely directed their questions at Osbourne.
To keep the other band members involved, Schwartz used pre-prepared questions, blending their vague responses with managerial notes. This approach ensured everyone participated but undermined the event's authenticity. Schwartz expressed regret, acknowledging the compromised interaction fell short of his expectations. Out of numerous submitted queries, only a handful genuinely reached the band.
Additionally, Schwartz confessed to sanitizing Osbourne's answers due to excessive profanity. Particularly, he frequently removed a strong expletive disliked in American culture, which Osbourne liberally used during the conversation. Poor call quality compounded the issue, making accurate transcription challenging.
Osbourne's passing notably sparked a surge in tribute-inspired cryptocurrency tokens. "The Mad Man" token (OZZY), referencing Osbourne’s nickname, experienced a staggering 16,800% increase, hitting a market value of $3.85 million.
Schwartz’s confession underscores the delicate balance between fan engagement and authenticity. His admission sheds light on behind-the-scenes compromises, sparking discussions about transparency in celebrity-fan interactions.
