E!’s “Fashion Police” has suddenly found itself in a state of chaos, with Kelly Osbourne exiting the series after a dust-up with Giuliana Rancic — an upheaval that came just weeks after the show attempted to reinvent itself with Kathy Griffin stepping in for deceased host Joan Rivers.
As the show attempts to yet again pull the pieces together, TheWrap runs down the sequence of events that caused “Fashion Police” to unravel like a cheap gown — and looks at what’s next for the show.
September 4, 2014: “Fashion Police” host Joan Rivers dies at age 81, leaving the show without its most magnetic personality.
Sept. 29, 2014: With the search on for a new host, Kelly Osbourne doesn’t exactly offer a vote of confidence. “yes @e_FashionPolice Will be back in January but NO ONE WILL REPLACE @Joan_Rivers!” Osbourne writes on Twitter.
December 1, 2014: Kathy Griffin is tapped as the new host of “Fashion Police,” tasked with the daunting job of stepping into Rivers’ inimitable shoes.
January 12, 2015: Griffin makes her debut on “Fashion Police” during the show’s Golden Globes episode. It isn’t a particularly auspicious start, with Griffin drawing mixed reviews from social media users.
“I adore Kathy but she doesn’t cut it as the host of #FashionPolice,” one Twitter user opined. “I suggest guest hosts every week with the other three.”
February 24: Angered by “Fashion Police” co-host Giuliana Rancic’s comment that actress Zendaya — a friend of Osbourne’s — looked like she “smelled of patchouli oil and weed” owing to the dreadlocks she sported at the Oscars, Osbourne tweets that she’s “seriously questioning” whether she should remain on the series.
February 25: For a hot moment, anyway, there appears to be peace in the “Fashion Police” valley. Rancic apologizes to Zendaya, who accepts her mea culpa. And Osbourne appears ready to put the matter behind her, tweeting, “It takes a strong women [sic] to apologize & makes a forgiving women even stronger!” However, the “Kumbaya” chorus wouldn’t be sung for long.
February 27: E! announces that Osbourne is departing “Fashion Police” to “pursue other opportunities … We would like to thank her for her many contributions to the series over the past five years.” While the show is scheduled to return Mar. 30, E! says that “no decisions have been made on her replacement.” A source told TheWrap that the decision to leave was Osbourne’s.”It happened as Kelly said in her own words; she left to pursue other endeavors. Everyone at the show is thrilled to carry on with with Kathy, Giuliana and Brad.”
March 3: “Fashion Police” once again finds itself with a void to fill. People reports that “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” star Khloe Kardashian is interested in the vacancy. Meanwhile, TMZ claims that Griffin is seeking approval of the replacement, while E! executives are insisting that they make the choice. However, an individual with knowledge of the situation told TheWrap that Osbourne might not be replaced at all: “That’s in the hands of the network.”