Sharon Osbourne Quits 'Talent' After Alleging Discrimination
Sharon Osbourne is resigning from "America's Got Talent" after seven years in the judge's chair. Osbourne has revealed that she believes NBC executives discriminated against her son, Jack, after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
"I just can't be fake," Osbourne told The New York Post. "It's discrimination and it was badly handled." The news came after Osbourne emailed the Post a letter sent by NBC executives concerning Jack's appearance on a show called "Stars Earn Stripes."
"I was working without a signed contract right up until the live shows started on 'America's Got Talent,''' Sharon Osbourne explained. "Everything is done at the last minute. We took six months to negotiate back and forth."
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Then in June, after Jack went public with his diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, NBC sent another email.
"Regretfully, we cannot move forward with Jack's participation," the email said.
"An NBC executive did initially leave a message for Ms. Osbourne," the representative told the Post. "However, when we received no return call, we sent an email in the interest of time. Further, Ms. Osbourne was offered the opportunity to discuss the situation with another NBC programming executive, but declined."
Jack Osbourne was allegedly signed to a contract with NBC to host the series, which pits celebrities in a military-drill type battle. Even though he offered to buy his own insurance, which would be significantly higher due to his diagnosis, NBC refused the offer, and now Sharon is getting heavily involved.
"He didn't want the money [NBC executives offered]," Sharon explained. "He wanted this 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."
Sharon is rather notorious for getting her own way and making it known when she doesn't. Coworkers Leah Remini and Holly Robinson-Peete were first cast on Osbourne's series "The Talk" but were let go after one season. The two allege that Osbourne was upset with the cast and wanted Remini and Peete replaced, which CBS promptly did.
As for NBC, the representative told the Post, "Sharon has been a valuable part of the NBC family. We regret any misunderstanding and wish Jack well."
