In a bid to save their celebrity relationships, E! execs are considering canceling “Fashion Police,” multiple sources tell Confidenti@l.
Although the network released a statement saying the show will “return as scheduled on Monday, March 30, at 9 p.m.,” we hear there may not be much patience left for the struggling series after Kathy Griffin, who replaced Joan Rivers on the program earlier this year, unexpectedly quit on Thursday.
Griffin had defied execs, who had instructed the hosts not to discuss behind-the-scenes drama at “FP,” following the backlash aimed at Giuliana Rancic after her comments about Zendaya’s hair smelling like “weed.”
“Don’t have anyone write your jokes or even suggest jokes for you on Fashion Police,” Griffin told the Chicago Sun-Times’ Splash magazine this week. Rancic “has enough great insider gossip from actually being on the red carpet,” said Griffin. “That’s what fans want to hear the next day. Just talk and be yourself.”
The comic also said she had Kelly Osbourne’s back, after Osbourne quit herself after the Zendaya scandal. Griffin said Ozzy’s daughter comforted her when Rivers was in the hospital.
After Griffin announced she was leaving the show on Twitter, Osbourne tweeted, “I could not be more proud of you @kathygriffin you have my love and support always!”
Now, with just Rancic and Brad Goreski left as co-hosts and Melissa Rivers as executive producer, E! honchos are struggling to find anyone who can carry the show the way Joan did.
“They have off this month, but don’t be surprised if they cancel it quietly in a matter of weeks, when the craziness dies down a little,” one source tells us. “Melissa is a producer, not a leader; she can’t get control of the situation.”
Our source says the show was labeled a “hassle” by execs, who are upset that celebrities are now trashing the broadcast, which under Joan Rivers was considered edgy.
“Lena Dunham, Rosie O’Donnell and Jane Lynch all tweeted supporting Kathy. That’s not good. E! can’t survive without celebrity cooperation,” says our source.
The source also says Rancic has had it with the drama and would be “happy to go,” because she prefers her other duties at E! anyway.
“ ‘Fashion Police’ is an albatross around her neck,” says our source. “She’s like, let the thing die already.”
A rep for E! didn’t return a request for comment.
Source: NY Daily News