E!’s Fashion Police has lost Kelly Osbourne – one of its most popular and colourful co-hosts.
The show’s producer announced on Friday that the 30-year-old will be departing the network’s style and red carpet show to “pursue other opportunities.”
“We would like to thank her for her many contributions to the series over the past five years during which time the show became a hit with viewers,” the network said in a statement.
The departure comes as Fashion Police is facing scrutiny over one of its hosts’ comments.
On Monday’s telecast, co-host Giuliana Rancic made a comment about the dreadlocks of actress-singer, Zendaya Coleman, saying the hair probably smelled like “weed” or “patchouli oil.” Some felt the comment was racially insensitive.
The backlash from Rancic’s comment fell onto Osbourne who took to Twitter to convey her displeasure over the situation.
“I DID NOT MAKE THE WEED COMENT [sic]”, Osborne tweeted on Tuesday.” I DOT NOT CONDONE RACISM SO AS A RSULT [sic] OF THIS IM SEREIOUSLY [sic] QUESTIONONIG [sic] STAYING ON THE SHOW!”
Giuliana Rancic has since apologised for her comments and Zendaya Coleman has accepted her apology.
E! said that the show would return as scheduled on Friday, March 30 and that no decisions have yet been made on Osbourne’s replacement.
Multiple sources connected with the show however tell TMZ that producers and Kelly were at odds even before the Giuliana Rancic showdown.
“We’re told the tension started over the first episode the cast taped without Joan Rivers. Kelly was unhappy with the way the show was being produced. Producers, we’re told, were “up to here” with Kelly so the handwriting was on the wall,” TMZ reported.
