NBC is rejecting Sharon Osbourne's claims that the network discriminated against her son and dropped him from a new reality series after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
Osbourne said on Monday that she would quit 'America's Got Talent' following this season over the way NBC treated her son and cut him loose after making a verbal commitment to be one of the contestants on 'Stars Earn Stripes', which pits celebrities against one another in military training exercises.
"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," says NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt.
"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," he explains. "This network does not discriminate on any basis."
Sharon Osbourne said her son offered to buy his own insurance policy but producers declined and dropped him by email two days before it was set to begin.
She reiterated her point late Monday: "Please don't misunderstand. I love 'Talent' with all my heart and will of course finish out the season. It is still one of the best shows on TV."
NBC is rejecting Sharon Osbourne's claims that the network discriminated against her son and dropped him from a new reality series after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
