Sharon Osbourne has decided to step down from her judging role at America’s Got Talent because she doesn’t like the way Jack Osbourne got treated by producers of NBC’s Stars Earn Stripes.
In a recent string of appearances and interviews, Osbourne announced she could no longer work for NBC because of the way the network handled the firing of her son, Jack, from the upcoming military-themed reality show .
She claimed Jack was fired, via email, days before he was to report for work on Stars Earn Stripes. Osbourne also says her son had recently revealed to the network he had been diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS.
However, NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt responded to Sharon Osbourne‘s claims, denying Jack was given the boot because of his recently disclosed multiple sclerosis.
In a statement shared to Deadline, Greenblatt said:
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, [husband] 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.
Jack reportedly participated in a 30-mile endurance race in January amd offered to pay for his own insurance policy if he became a cast member, but Stars Earn Stripes executive producer David Hurwitz told the Post, “The rigors of the show were too intense for him.”
Do you think NBC was wrong for denying Jack Osborne a spot because of his MS diagnosis? Sound off and let us know below…
