Sharon Osbourne has voiced fears that she may not be returning to the CBS show The Talk following accusations of ‘racism’ and an on-air spat with co-host Sheryl Underwood last week.
Osbourne told Entertainment Tonight that she is facing a backlash following the televised fight.
‘I wish we could go on and have an adult conversation calmly and work it out but I don’t know whether we can,’ she said.
‘I don’t know whether it’s gone past that. I would love to but I don’t know whether I even want to go back… I don’t know whether I’m wanted there.’
Osbourne has said that she is willing to have an on-air conversation to further the conversation about race and make the controversy ‘a teachable moment’
Sharon Osbourne has voiced fears that she may not be returning to the CBS show The Talk following accusations of ‘racism’ and an on-air spat with co-host Sheryl Underwood last week
Osbourne has faced criticism over her an on-air feud with Underwood after she was accused of being racist for defending her friend Piers Morgan in the wake of his Meghan Markle comments
Osbourne reacted angrily last week during a discussion about British television personality Piers Morgan, who she describes as a friend.
Morgan left the Good Morning Britain show after he said he didn’t believe Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, when she said in an interview that she had considered suicide when unhappy with her life in Britain’s royal family.
Underwood then said to Osbourne, ‘What would you say to people who may feel that, while you’re standing by your friend, it appears that you gave validation or safe haven to something that he has uttered that is racist, even if you don’t agree?’
Osbourne replied angrily, using words that were bleeped out, and said she felt like she was being placed on ‘the electric chair’ for having him as a friend.
‘I wish we could go on and have an adult conversation calmly and work it out but I don’t know whether we can,’ Osbourne told Entertainment Tonight
At one point Osbourne said to Underwood, ‘don’t try to cry. If anyone should be crying, it should be me.’
Osbourne claimed later that the show’s producers told her offscreen that CBS had ordered she be confronted about her support for Morgan. CBS has so far not addressed that accusation.
The network would not say precisely what claims it is investigating. CBS said in a statement that it ‘is committed to a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace across all of our productions.’
While the show remains on hiatus, Osbourne has insisted that she is ‘NOT racist’, however she has admitted that she is open to be being educated about issues facing black people.
‘Do I have my finger on the pulse of what’s going on, with the black situation in this country? No.
‘The ins and the outs of the way the younger generation feel right now, I don’t have my finger on the pulse.’
While the show remains on hiatus, Osbourne has insisted that she is ‘NOT racist’, however she has admitted that she is open to be being educated about issues facing black people
Osbourne has also conceded that she could have handled herself better during the on-air dispute.
‘I can’t not own up. I said what I said. I got too personal with Sheryl. I should’ve never said stop her tears. She was hurting as I was hurting.
‘I love Sheryl, I’ve apologized to Sheryl, she’s not gotten back and I can understand. Sheryl needs her time,’ she said.
‘I am not a racist and if you can’t have a go at your friend who happens to be black, does that make me racist because I said certain things to my friend, but I said them on camera?
‘I will keep on apologizing to Sheryl, even if I decide not to go back, I will still keep apologizing to Sheryl.
‘I have nothing but respect and so much affection for Sheryl. I don’t want to hurt her,’ she continued.
‘I let myself down. I let her down by losing my cool, by not centering myself to say, ‘OK, for some reason they’re doing this to me … you’re on national TV, stay calm, stay calm.’
‘And I didn’t. So. I blew it. But that does not make me a racist.’
Osbourne has since said she was ‘blindsided’ by Underwood, CBS and horrified to be called a racist for her defense of Piers Morgan
The row between Osbourne and her co-hosts began after Osbourne tweeted in support of Morgan shortly after his departure was announced, saying: ‘I am with you. I stand by you. People forget that you’re paid for your opinion and that you’re just speaking your truth.’
The following day, Osbourne asked producers if she could do a monologue to clear the air after being subjected to a backlash but bosses insisted she take part in a debate with Underwood instead.
Sharon opened Wednesday’s episode: ‘Why is it that because I supported a longtime friend and work colleague for years, people go ‘well you must be racist because he’s racist.’
‘No. I support his freedom of speech. I’m not racist and neither is Piers racist. What have I ever said about anybody that’s racist? It’s not within me. It’s not in my soul.’
The insiders say Osbourne was ‘set up to fail’ by CBS bigwigs over her defense of Morgan and was forced to take part in the on-air debate.
Osbourne has since said she was ‘blindsided’ by Underwood, CBS and horrified to be called a racist for her defense of Morgan.
CBS has extended The Talk’s hiatus for yet another week after Sharon Osbourne was accused of frequently calling former co-host Julie Chen a ‘wonton’ and ‘slanty eyes’. They are pictured above together in 2015
Sources have claimed Osbourne repeatedly referred to then-co-host Julie Chen (center) as ‘wonton’ and ‘slanty eyes’. They also claim Osbourne referred to then co-host Sara Gilbert (right), who is a lesbian, as a ‘p***y licker’ and ‘fish eater’
On Tuesday, allegations of racism against Osbourne continued after she was accused of frequently calling former co-hosts Julie Chen a ‘wonton’ and Sara Gilbert, who is a lesbian, a ‘fish eater’ – but her publicist hit back saying she’s ‘hardly surprised by the lies’.
The recent claims against the 68-year-old came from sources who spoke to journalist Yashar Ali.
Several sources, including former co-hosts Leah Remini and Holly Robinson Peete, have since alleged that Osbourne has a history bullying and racist language.
Osbourne is accused of calling lesbian actress Gilbert, who left the show in 2019, a ‘p**** eater’
Osbourne is the only original host left on the show, which began in 2010 with Chen, Gilbert, Remini, Marissa Jaret Winokur, and Holly Robinson Peete.
The sources say Osbourne repeatedly referred to then-co-host Chen as ‘wonton’ and ‘slanty eyes’.
They also claim Osbourne referred to another then co-host Sara Gilbert, who is a lesbian, as a ‘p***y licker’ and ‘fish eater’.
In response to the claims involving Chen and Gilbert, Osbourne’s publicist Howard Bragman said the talk show host was ‘disappointed but unfazed and hardly surprised by the lies’.
‘The only thing worse than a disgruntled former employee is a disgruntled former talk show host,’ he said.
‘For 11 years Sharon has been kind, collegial and friendly with her hosts as evidenced by throwing them parties, inviting them to her home in the UK and other gestures of kindness too many to name.
‘Sharon is disappointed but unfazed and hardly surprised by the lies, the recasting of history and the bitterness coming out at this moment.
‘She will survive this, as she always has and her heart will remain open and good, because she refuses to let others take her down.’
The Talk: Sheryl Underwood, Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Eve and Julie Chen