Jack Osbourne admitted he feels like a “fraud” in his ongoing battle with multiple sclerosis (MS), 14 years after his diagnosis.
During the Tuesday episode of the “MeSsy” podcast, Osbourne shared that there was a period when he “hated” receiving pity. “Don’t f–king give me your pity,” he stated.
Osbourne, 40, described a “tough struggle” and “balance” in being a “member of a community that does struggle.” He added, “I just got so frustrated with aspects of what that meant, by being kind of a big flag waiver in that sphere.”
He elaborated on his feelings of being a fraud, explaining that while he was diagnosed 14 years ago, he encounters others diagnosed more recently who are in much worse condition. “They’re having a much harder time, and I’m kind of like, it does affect me [but] it hasn’t stopped me, and it hasn’t slowed me down,” he said.
Co-host Christina Applegate, who revealed her own MS misdiagnosis, humorously responded, “Talk about being a fraud. I don’t even have it anymore,” leading to laughter from Sigler and Osbourne.
Osbourne also revealed that he is not currently taking medication for MS. He unintentionally stopped his treatment during his 2019 divorce when his health insurance lapsed. After regaining coverage, he chose not to restart medication, curious about how long he could manage without it.
“I went about eight years, and it wasn’t until kind of last year did I start having some things [happen],” he said. Despite not being medicated, Osbourne continues to have regular check-ups and MRIs with his doctors. He noted that while uncomfortable, he has experienced symptoms such as “road rash” all over his body.
Mayo Clinic defines MS as a disease that affects the central nervous system, causing damage to the protective covering of nerve fibers. This can lead to a range of symptoms including numbness, weakness, vision problems, and difficulty with coordination and balance.
Osbourne shared that he finds purpose in struggle, having learned significant life lessons after a period of considerable success with minimal effort, referencing his early career on MTV’s “The Osbournes.” “The lessons for me really began when s–t started breaking because that’s when I had to pause and go, ‘OK, how come this isn’t working now? What do I have to change? It forces a deeper look. So with MS, it shifted so many for me, mentally, physically, emotionally,” he explained. “I just started taking things a little more seriously.”
Jack Osbourne married Aree Gearhart in 2023. They have two daughters, Maple Artemis and Ozzy Matilda. He also has three daughters, Pearl Clementine, Andy Rose, and Minnie Theodora, with his ex-wife Lisa Stelly.