Jack Osbourne Had Trouble Getting Hired Due to MS: ‘They Deemed Me an Insurance Risk’
Jack Osbourne says his multiple sclerosis diagnosis impacted his career, causing him to lose work when he was declared an “insurance risk.”
“Professionally, it was a problem early on where I couldn’t get hired on productions because they deemed me an insurance risk because I had a neurological disorder,” Osbourne, now 39, says about his 2012 diagnosis. “They were like, ‘Oh, yeah, it’s too dangerous.’ So I did lose work, and I found that really insulting.”
“I know what it means to be a producer. We’re not that smart,” Osbourne, who produces horror and haunted-themed travel shows. “And you’re going to sit there and, like, a producer is going to tell me what I can or cannot do on a neurological [issue]? I’m like, ‘No, f— off, dude, stay in your lane.’ “
The Osbournes alum was 26 when he was diagnosed with the disease — just two weeks after he and ex-wife Lisa Stelly welcomed daughter Pearl Clementine, now 12. (They also share daughters Andy Rose, 9, and Minnie Theodora, 6; Osbourne and wife Aree Gearhart share daughter Maple, 2.)
Multiple sclerosis causes breakdown of the protective covering of nerves,” according to Mayo Clinic. It can cause numbness, weakness, trouble walking, vision changes and other symptoms. Some people lose the ability to walk on their own or move at all.
That has not been Osbourne’s experience.
“Touch wood, I’ve been very fortunate. I have MS, and I haven’t had any huge problems with it over the years,” he says.
Osbourne also shared the surprising way he altered public perception of his health: “What really was the changing factor for me, as weird as it sounds, I did Dancing with the Stars and did really well on it. After that everyone was like, ‘Oh, he’s fine.”
“Some things here and there but nothing life-changing to this point, which I count my blessings towards that. I exercise a lot. My whole thing is a ‘body in motion stays in motion.’ Just keep going. I try and eat right … I like to do things. I like rock climbing. I do a lot of jiu jitsu and hiking. I like to be active.”
Source: People