Update: NBC Responds to Sharon Osbourne's Discrimination Accusations

Yesterday, BWW reported that Sharon Osbourne announced in the NY Post that she would be quitting the NBC talent competition AMERICA'S GOT TALENT after a dispute involving her son Jack. According to the report, Osbourne was "fuming" over the news that the network fired her son Jack from their new reality TV series "Stars Earn Stripes" once it was disclosed that the 26-year-old was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

The 59-year-old AGT judge claims that her son was axed via e-mail just two days before filming was to begin on the series and then lied to the press about it. Maintains Osbourne, "I just can't be fake. It's discrimination, and it was badly handled."

Now, NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt has publicly addressed Sharon Osbourne's comments. His statement reads: 

"First, we have the deepest affection for Sharon Osbourne and consider her to be part of the NBC family. And our hearts go out to her, Ozzy, Jack and his family at this time. We hold medical information in strict confidence and therefore cannot comment specifically about Jack, but as a company that cares deeply about the health and safety of everyone on our shows - especially one like Stars Earn Stripes that requires dangerous water stunts, strenuous physical activity, and uses live ammunition – we required all potential participants to undergo medical vetting to ensure that they could safely participate. Although we did not ask Jack to participate in the competition, we were able to offer him two substantial alternative roles on the show, both of which he declined. This network does not discriminate on any basis."

Although Osbourne is still under contract with NBC, she told The Post, "They can't make me do something I don't want to do. All they can do is stop me from being a judge on another network for five years." 

The fury began in June when Jack was a guest on Osbourne's 'The Talk' chatfest, claiming he had been fired from the military-themed reality series due to his medical condition. Soon after, "Stars and Stripes" held a press conference in LA, in which producer David Hurwitz insisted the younger Osbourne had never been officially hired in the first place. "He was somebody we were in talks with," Hurwitz explained.

Fired back Osbourne, "I was working without a signed contract right up until the live shows started on 'America's Got Talent. Everything is done at the last minute. We took six months to negotiate back and forth." He later claimed that on May 18th, he received an email from the network's VP of Talent Relations confirming, "We are looking forward to working with you. "I am happy you are going to be in the NBC family."

Sharon Osbourne sent The Post an e-mail she said she received from NBC just days after her son revealed his condition, which read, "Regretfully, we cannot move forward with Jack's participation."

Commented Osbourne, "He didn't want the money. He wanted his gig. It gave him something to look forward to when he was diagnosed. Think of the good that it could have done to show other people who have this [condition] that your life is not over."

 

 

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