Over the last few weeks we’ve heard talk that Sharon Osbourne might not be returning to America’s Got Talent. We now know the reason, and it’s because of something that we would have never expected.
According to the New York Post, Osbourne is leaving AGT because of a dispute with NBC involving her son, Jack.
Jack Osbourne was set to be a contestant on the upcoming NBC reality show Stars and Stripes, a show where celebrity contestants face off against each other in military exercises. He never officially signed a contract, as both Osbournes attest, but NBC and Jack Osbourne were going ahead with a verbal agreement, which is common in the entertainment business.
About a month after the agreement, Jack Osbourne went public with the fact that he has multiple sclerosis. This prompted NBC to send the Osbournes an email:
Regretfully, we cannot move forward with Jack’s participation.
An NBC representative gave a comment on this:
An NBC executive did initially leave a message for Ms. Osbourne. 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.
Producer David Hurwitz commented on why Jack Osbourne was let go:
The rigors of the show were too intense for him.
Sharon Osbourne has said this lead to her decision to leave America’s Got Talent and NBC:
I just can’t be fake. It’s discrimination, and it was badly handled.
It’s time to move on. 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.
She does note here that she is under contract. This is interesting given the fact that only last week she was saying that they hadn’t asked her back. She obviously would have already known about this whole fiasco then, and it’s curious as to why she’d make that sort of comment.
She made a few tweets to make sure that people still know that she loves AGT:
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— Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) August 6, 2012
I love
@nbcagt@howiemandel@howardstern &@nickcannon. We have the world’s best crew. And most importantly, we have the best talent on tv.— Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) August 6, 2012
An NBC representative has issued this statement:
Sharon has been a valuable part of the NBC family. We regret any misunderstanding and wish Jack well.
What are your thoughts on this situation? Will you be sad to see Sharon go? Do you agree with her that she had to?