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

6:24 PM PDT 8/6/2012 by Lesley Goldberg

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"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," NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt says.

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.

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"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," he said.

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"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 entry Stars Earn Stripes after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

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"I just can’t be fake," Osbourne told the Post on Monday. "It’s discrimination, and it was badly handled."

Osbourne claims producers behind Stars 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.