comScore
  1. Mediaite
  2. Gossip Cop
  3. Geekosystem
  4. Styleite
  5. SportsGrid
  6. The Mary Sue
  7. The Jane Dough
  8. The Braiser

Busting bad dish!

Hot Topics Jennifer Lawrence Kim Kardashian Rihanna Robert Pattinson Beyonce Justin Bieber Kristen Stewart

Sharon Osbourne Quitting America’s Got Talent After NBC Allegedly Fired Son Jack

Truth rating: 10

10:15 am, August 6th, 2012

(GettyImages.com)

Sharon Osbourne is quitting “America’s Got Talent” after NBC allegedly cut her son Jack from a new reality show following his multiple sclerosis diagnosis.

As Gossip Cop previously reported, Osbourne hinted that she may leave the talent competition last month, but claimed it was because she hadn’t yet been asked back by the network.

Now, the co-host of “The Talk” tells the New York Post that Jack was fired via email from the series “Stars Earn Stripes” — in which celebrities compete in military-style challenges — after NBC learned of his illness, and then lied about it to the press.

Osbourne says, “I just can’t be fake. It’s discrimination, and it was badly handled.”

“It’s time to move on,” the TV personality adds.

RELATED – Jack Osbourne Disccusses MS Diagnosis on “The Talk” (VIDEO)

David Hurwitz, the producer of “Stars Earn Stripes,” told reporters the network was in talks with Jack, but that he was never hired.

Sharon Osbourne insists this was not the case.

While she admits Jack’s contract with NBC was never signed, Osbourne says there was a verbal agreement in place.

The “AGT” judge evidences NBC’s email to Jack, in which Hurwitz allegedly wrote that the network “cannot move forward with Jack’s participation” in the show because “the rigors of the show were too intense for him.”

Osbourne adds that Jack even offered to buy his own insurance policy, but that the producers declined.

NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt has since responded: “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,” he noted.

Greenblatt added, “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.”

What do you think about Sharon Osbourne leaving “America’s Got Talent” over this dispute, and the NBC Entertainment chairman’s response?

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

You might like:


  • Lori

    She needs to realize that Jack not participating in that show is a good thing. It would have been a very high stress environment and could have exacerbated his symptoms significantly. I don’t blame them one bit for opting not to sign a contract with someone with a known, and significant, medical condition. She’s not punishing anyone by leaving – good riddance.

  • catca

    I thought people with ms were able to participate in rigorous activities, depending on how severe the ms is. If I’m right about that (I def could be wrong, I’m no expert), I can understand Sharon’s point of view. I also think if there was an agreement in place, it needs to be honored if Jack felt he could handle it. I can understand requesting a medical assessment for legal liability reasons (buying his own insurance policy would not absolve NBC of legal liability if something went wrong), but if doctors sign off, that’s it. I wonder if NBC found someone who was a bigger name and because the contract was not yet signed, they went with the bigger name. It might not have had anything to do with his diagnosis, but the timing raises a red flag. I also would think his diagnosis would add to his storyline making it much more dramatic and inspirational. While I do empathize with Sharon, I do think there is a great deal of nepotism here to begin with (i.e. Jack wouldn’t have even been in talks if it wasn’t for his parents) which doesn’t sit well with me.

  • Judy C Robi

    Lori, your statement started in such a careing way, then BAM you end with good riddance. First of NBC has been making a lot of hasty decisions, maybe a better way to say this is that some of the networks decisions are questionable. With this said, I agree that it was probably in his best interest to not do this show. As usual NBS exectutives handled it poorly. As for Sharon leaveing AGT I hate to hear that, between Sharon , Steven and Howie the show had in my opinion had grown into a top notch show.

  • Lola

    No you are correct. This is plan old discrimination and the network should be held accountable for this. If any normal person was fired from their job because they found out they had an incurable disease they would sue their employer. Jack Osbourne should sue!

  • Tamaraturner2010

    I agree nbc could of found someone with more tar power. Ive
    aunt with ms she lived in a rest home …a
    nyway I think Jack could of been on the show

  • Kaitlyn Cocuzzo

    Good for her, family comes first

  • Guest

    Don’t care if Sharon is quitting or has not been asked back by NBC. That is her business. BUT if NBC really did fire Jack because of his disease, they deserve to be sued for discrimination, if only to show large corporations like NBC that there are certain behaviours that are not cool. It is disgusting.

  • Brenda

    He has NO grounds. There was no signed contract.

  • anon

    I have mixed emotions on this. If it was such a big deal why did she not quit weeks ago when they started filming the star’s show? Timing is crucial & there seems to be a lot more to the story. Sharon is running on pure emotion & maybe an agenda also here & I don’t feel is being 100% truthful. Does Jack have a case? Of course he does if true.. MOMMA Osbourne has to come completly clean 100% both sides

  • anon

    see he was offeree something else to be a participant in it another way.. THis could bite Osbourne in the ass..

  • Rkelly1615

    Wow that was hard to read…drop the “e” and add “ing”…NBS exectutives…LMAO

Abrams Media Network click here for advertising opportunities
X