Tuesday, August 7, 2012

NBC Responds to Sharon Osbourne's Discrimination Claims Against Her Son

Tribeca Film Festival 2011 Jack Osbourne - P 2012
Larry Busacca/Getty Images
Jack Osbourne

NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt rejected America's Got Talent judge Sharon Osbourne's claims that the network discriminated against her son, Jack.

"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 commentspecifically about Jack, but as a company that cares deeply about the healthand safety of everyone on our shows -- especially one like STARS EARN STRIPES that requiresdangerous water stunts, strenuous physical activity, and uses live ammunition --we required all potential participants to undergo medical vetting toensure that they could safely participate," he said.

STORY: Sharon Osbourne Quits 'America's Got Talent,' Claims NBC Fired Son Over MS

"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," he continued. "This network does not discriminate on any basis."

In an interview with the New York Post, Osbourne said she will leave the show once the season wraps, claiming that NBC fired her son from its upcoming competition entryStars Earn Stripesafter he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

STORY: TCA 2012: NBC Deflects Sharon Osbourne 'America's Got Talent' Departure Rumors

"I just cant be fake," Osbourne told thePoston Monday. "Its discrimination, and it was badly handled."

Osbourne claims producers behindStars Earn Stripes-- the series that sees celebrities compete in intense military challenges to earn prizes for charities -- contacted her two days before Jack was supposed to start work on the series claiming the show could not move forward with her son on board.

"It's time to move on," said Osbourne, who remains under contract with AGT. "They can't make me do something I don't want to do. All they can do is stop be from being a judge on another network for five years."

Osbourne has been with AGT since its second season and took to Twitter Monday to confirm her pending departure. "Please don't misunderstand. I love @nbcagt w/ all my heart and will of course finish out the season. It is still one of the best shows on tv," she wrote.

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