Kelly Osbourne Quits ‘Fashion Police’ As Giuliana Rancic Battles Kathy Griffin To Replace Joan Rivers [Video]

Kelly Osbourne has quit Fashion Police. The daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne made the announcement in the wake of a controversy churned up by her co-star Giuliana Rancic, who criticized Zendaya’s dreadlocks in a way that many found racist, reported the Huffington Post.

The E! network offered up a statement formally acknowledging her decision and trying to halt rumors about a replacement by noting the show’s scheduled return.

“Kelly Osbourne is departing E!s ‘Fashion Police’ to pursue other opportunities, and 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. ‘Fashion Police’ will return, as scheduled, on Friday, March 30th at 9:00 p.m. and no decisions have been made on her replacement.”

However, TMZ reports that Kelly felt miserable at the show prior to the Zendaya controversy. Osbourne had been close to Joan Rivers, and when the show returned without the legendary comedienne to host, Kelly couldn’t adjust to the changes.

The flare-up over Zendaya proved to be the final straw for both producers and Kelly, said sources.

But it wasn’t just Osbourne and Rancic who were at odds, according to the New York Daily News. Tapped to replace Joan Rivers initially, Kathy Griffin also has been battling with others.

“Kelly had a blowout fight with Kathy when she started the show,” said a source. “There were words, because Kelly talks about Joan constantly — which is OK; we all love Joan.”

For Joan’s daughter, Melissa Rivers, who has retained the job as executive producer, talking about Joan is part of remembering her mother. But for Kelly and Kathy, comparisons became a bitter battle, said the source.

“(Osbourne would) imply Kathy wasn’t Joan. Kathy is there to do a job,” emphasized the insider. “She doesn’t want to fight with Kelly.”

But it’s the attempt on Rancic’s part to channel Joan Rivers that caused The View hosts to attack her, as the Inquisitr reported.

Whoopi Goldberg questioned whether a show that was funny when hosted by Joan had migrated into a show that was cruel without mitigating humor. And she also opened the door to exploring whether the show needed to take a different angle without Rivers there to take charge.

“Maybe it’s time for the show to turn into something else,” suggested Whoopi. “Joan was a one of a kind. There’s nobody like her, there’s nobody as funny, there’s nobody who can do what she did.”

The comment that Giuliana made that caused the brouhaha came when she said that she associated Zendaya’s dreadlocks with a distinct odor.

“I feel like she smells like patchouli oil… or maybe weed,” said the E! News star.

[Photo By Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images]