Sharon Osbourne Quits America's Got Talent

Sharon Osbourne is not known for keeping her mouth shut. So combine her opinionated personality with the fierce protectiveness of a mom, and it’s no wonder she’s causing an uproar right now. Sharon, 56, is accusing NBC of discrimination against her son Jack and has subsequently quit her position on the NBC show America’s Got Talent.

Jack, Sharon’s 26-year-old son with aging rocker Ozzie Osbourne, was signed on to participate in the latest reality television show featuring second-string celebrities, called Stars Earn Stripes. The premise of the show is to have “celebrities” compete against one another in military themed obstacles.

Unfortunately, a few weeks before the show was set to begin filming, and just two weeks after his daughter Pearl Clementine was born, Jack publically announced that he has been diagnosed with the crippling and chronic autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis. Sharon told The New York Post that Jack was subsequently “fired” from the show two days prior to filming.

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

In defense of the show and network, producer David Hurwitz claims Jack wasn’t “fired” because he was never officially hired. Jack did, however, receive an email from NBC’s vice president of talent relations back in May, saying, “We are looking forward to working with you. I am happy you are going to be in the NBC family.”

Hmm, wonder why he thought he had the gig?

Last month, Hurwitz sent a message with a very different tone. It read, “the rigors of the show [would be] too intense” for Jack and NBC would not be moving forward with him.

Sharon explained to the press that working off of verbal commitments and good faith is normal in the showbiz industry, and offered her own experiences with American’s Got Talent as an example.

"I was working without a signed contract right up until the live shows started on America’s Got Talent. Everything is done at the last minute. We took six months to negotiate back and forth."

Sharon shared that Jack even offered to purchase his own insurance policy to participate on the show, but the producers still said no. Instead, Jack was offered his full appearance fee to basically go away and not make a public stink about it. Obviously, he said no.

"He didn’t want the money," Sharon said. "He wanted his 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.”

In defense of her son and what she thinks is discrimination, Sharon said she decided to leave her judging position on America’s Got Talent because she no longer wants anything to do with the network.

“Time to move on,” Sharon said.

Sharon is breaking her contract with the show, but insists, "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."

NBC responded to Sharon’s parting with, “Sharon has been a valuable part of the NBC family. We regret any misunderstanding and wish Jack well.”