UPDATE: NBC's Bob Greenblatt Responds To Sharon Osbourne Discrimination Claims
UPDATE: NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt just publicly addressed Sharon Osbourne’s statements in an interview that she is leaving NBC’s America’s Got Talent because the network discriminated against her son Jack, axing him from the new reality series Stars Earn Stripes after he disclosed that he had MS. NBC had previously acknowledged that it had been in talks with Jack but never reached a deal; Sharon Osbourne countered that there was a binding verbal agreement. Here is Greenblatt’s statement:
“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 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. This network does not discriminate on any basis.”