Entertainment Tonight host Kevin Frazier suggested that a number of prominent black women from Hollywood come together to help Sharon Osbourne “learn” about race.
It happened spectacularly.
Frazier interviewed Osbourne on Tuesday about the aftermath of his explosive discussion with her co-host “The Talk,” Sheryl Underwood, who saw the show aired pending an investigation.
He posted a photo of the chat on Instagram, tagging Osbourne and Underwood, as well as former talk co-host Holly Robinson Peete – who accused Osbourne of calling her a “ghetto” – and the actress and sincere racial justice lawyer Amanda Seales. He also tagged Meghan Markle, who was the subject of a heated exchange with Underwood, and “Bachelor” host Chris Harrison, who is involved in his own racial scandal.
He suggested that they have a “summit,” saying, “At some point we all need to get to a point where we can sit together and have a tough conversation about race. I don’t know what will happen next for Sharon Osbourne, but I know it’s time for a meaningful conversation, a learning moment. She’s ready. “
Osbourne liked the post, but it didn’t go well with several black actresses, including “Insecure” star Seale.
“It simply came to our notice then. How much energy do you put into providing a safe space for those on the show who have been terrorized by her racism / classism / xenophobia, “she replied.
Frazier declined: “I’ve been doing this for years … I wanted to hear your thoughts, that’s why I labeled you, I respect your opinion, I’m not trying to get into a scrap yard.”
“Well, this time you missed it, BROTHA,” Seales said.
Meanwhile, Sherri Shepherd said sarcastically that she “must have missed” Osbourne’s “public apology” to Underwood and another former co-host Julie Chen Moonves, whom she was accused of calling “wonton” and “Slanty-eyes,” which Osbourne denies. Shepherd added: “Don’t think Sharon is almost ready.”
Frazier deleted the post. On Wednesday, he tried to clarify his intentions. “We suggested that there be a place in the mainstream where people (like Sheryl and Holly) could express their feelings without being disabled or dumb (and I can tell you that there were people who worked to turn them off Hollys [sic] the voice after she left), ”he said.
Peete, who believes Osbourne could have had a helping hand to fire her from the show in 2011, appreciated the subsequent post.
“Thank you for acknowledging the way I was treated after being let go of ‘The Talk’ in such a useless, mischievous way. Sharon was part of that. She knows it. No matter what she says. Now everything is coming out and I don’t think she is close to being “ready” for any kind of responsibility. That’s just my opinion, “she said.
On the other hand, Seales reposted his original post and told him, “Cut the kumbaya tactic. It is so easy to protect black women. ”
“It’s not the responsibility of black people to educate white people about how they can’t be garbage people. Okay, hey [bleeping] invented racism. Why [bleep] we need to teach you how not to be racist, ”she said in a five-minute video. “Expecting us to do this and, as a black person, trying to gather people in that space is … just stupid and also doesn’t respect our time and energy.”
She added that Underwood and Robinson Pete were “at the end of this woman’s racist struggle” and said: “So basically you ask the victims to come and have a nice place with their attacker so that this bitch can you feel better? No, we’re not on the white people’s rehabilitation train. ”
A representative for “ET” and Frazier did not comment.