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Is this the end for Fashion Police?

Following the departures of both Kelly Osbourne and Kathy Griffin, does E!'s Fashion Police have a future?

Emma Akbareian
Friday 13 March 2015 15:57 GMT
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Designer Kimora Lee Simmons, host Kelly Osbourne, designer Jenny Packham, hosts Joan Rivers and George Kotsiopoulos and producer Melissa Rivers are seen on the set of Fashion Police in September 2012
Designer Kimora Lee Simmons, host Kelly Osbourne, designer Jenny Packham, hosts Joan Rivers and George Kotsiopoulos and producer Melissa Rivers are seen on the set of Fashion Police in September 2012 (Getty)

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It's not been an easy year so far for E! and its fashion commentary programme Fashion Police.

First the US TV network was caught up in the #Askhermore campaign which saw award season attendees including Reese Witherspoon discourage questions on what they are wearing on the red carpet - E! runs one of the most widely publicised live from the red carpet shows screened during every major awards occasion.

The network has also been widely criticised for its mani-cam which during the live show sees celebrities walk their hand infront of a camera to show off their rings and manicures. Elisabeth Moss famously gave the camera the middle finger at last year's Golden Globes and Julianne Moore has spoken out, calling it "humiliating".

What followed last month was a race row when during the Oscar's edition of Fashion Police presenter Giuliana Rancic commented on singer Zendaya's dreadlocks commenting “I feel like she smells like patchouli oil and weed”.

In the ensuing media storm Kelly Osbourne, who has been a presenter on the show for five years, quit the programme and today the show's main host Kathy Griffin also announced her departure.

Kelly Osbourne
Kelly Osbourne (Geyyu)

Griffin explained in a length note on Twitter: "After 7 episodes of Fashion Police, I discovered that my style doesn't fit with the creative direction of the show."

Kathy Griffin is a well-known rights activist for both women and the LGBT community
Kathy Griffin is a well-known rights activist for both women and the LGBT community (Getty)

The American TV series, which first launched in 2010, has struggled for direction since the sudden death of its iconic presenter Joan Rivers in September last year.

At the time it was unclear whether the show would go on without Rivers who many considered to be irreplaceable. Rancic explained to ABC:

"A part of me is like Joan would want Melissa [Rivers] and us and the team to go on and I know she would, but it's just a matter of can there be a show without Joan? Do we want to do a Fashion Police without Joan? I don't know."

Although various names are rumoured to be in talks to take Osbourne's place including Khloe Kardashian and Chrissy Teigan, now with another empty slot and the aftermath of the race row, the shows future seems more uncertain than ever.

The official line from E! is that the programme will continue with the next episode schedule for 30 March and hosts Giuliana Rancic and Brad Goreski still on board.

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