CBS’s talk show The Talk returns to the screens on Monday, after a month-long break after Sharon Osbourne left the show amid controversy.
Osbourne’s departure came after a heated exchange between her and co-host Sheryl Underwood over a debate that saw her in the spring defending her friend and British colleague Piers Morgan over allegations of racism.
Monday’s show with Sheryl Underwood, Carrie Ann Inaba, Amanda Kloots and Elaine Welteroth will resume a discussion of race and healing.
Sharon Osbourne left The Talk after defending her friend Piers Morgan’s criticism of Meghan Markle. She asked her black co-host, Sheryl Underwood, to explain her claim that Morgan’s criticism was racist.
During the discussion, Osbourne defended Morgan in an air debate with co-host Sheryl Underwood, which erupted as Osbourne called for “educating me” about how Morgan is racist.
An expert on how to have difficult conversations about diversity, equity, inclusion and justice is to give advice to the group together with experts on how to heal after a difficult conversation.
The advice comes too late for Osbourne, who was forced to leave the show after the fall of March 10, after which the show was placed on hiatus.
CBS said Osbourne decided to leave the show after a review that found in part that “Sharon’s behavior toward her co-hosts during the March 10 episode does not align with our values for a respectful job.”
The network said its internal investigation said the show’s co-hosts, including Osbourne and Sheryl Underwood, were not properly prepared by the show’s team for a race discussion. But said no evidence was found to support Osbourne’s claim, CBS ordered that it be confronted with Morgan’s support.
Osbourne (far right) and Underwood (second from left) entered a heated exchange for Osbourne’s support for her friend Piers Morgan (third from left), who was fired for her comments about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. Morgan posted this photo in February 2020 of the former panel of last year’s show. From left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Underwood, Morgan, Marie Osmond and Osbourne
Morgan, who is a friend of Osbourne’s, left Good Morning Britain after saying he did not believe Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, when she said in an interview that she was thinking about suicide when she was unhappy with her family life. British royal.
During the discussion about Morgan, Underwood asked Osbourne, “What would you say to people who might feel that while sitting with your friend, you seem to have given validation or a safe haven to something he said he’s racist, even if you disagree?
Osbourne responded angrily, using words that were revealed, and said he felt seated in the “electric chair” because he had a friend that some people considered racist.
“I really feel like I’m about to be put on the electric chair because I have a friend that many people think is racist, so that makes me racist?” she said.
Underwood, who is black, pushed back and accused Osbourne of downplaying Morgan’s comments.
“Educate me, tell me when you heard him say racist things,” Osbourne said.
The discussion was on a one-month hiatus after heated debate, but Osbourne was forced to give up the show.
After a commercial break, the conversation continued with Osbourne telling Underwood at one point, “Don’t try to cry. If anyone should cry, it should be me.
Osbourne later apologized for Morgan’s “panicked” defense.
CBS said it organized workshops and training “on equity, inclusion and cultural awareness for hosts, producers and crew.”
“We recognize that the network and studio teams, as well as the showrunners, are responsible for what happened during the broadcast, because it was clear that the co-hosts were not properly prepared by the staff for a complex and sensitive discussion involving the race. “, In a revealed statement.
“During this break, we coordinate workshops, listening and training sessions on equity, inclusion and cultural awareness for hosts, producers and crew. In the future, we identify plans to improve production staff and produce procedures to better serve our hosts, production and, ultimately, our viewers, ”CBS said.
Earlier this week, Piers Morgan praised Osbourne for defending his right to an opinion even at the cost of his job, accusing CBS of “hypocrisy” for forcing her to participate in The Talk.
“When it really mattered, when the chips fell for me, she was there, she was a loyal friend. And my God paid for this loyalty, “Morgan said of Osbourne (with him above).
After The Talk continued, allegations surfaced that Osbourne had made racist or otherwise rude remarks about his backstage co-hosts.
Former co-stars Julie Chen and Leah Rimini have come out in public to complain that Osbourne once referred to Chen as a “wonton” and to Rimini as a “ghetto.”
A report by Yashar Ali also claimed that Osbourne called former co-host Sara Gilbert a “fish eater”, among other things; Gilbert is a lesbian.
CBS extended The Talk’s hiatus another week after Osbourne was accused of frequently calling former co-host Julie Chen “wonton” and “slanty eyes.”
Osbourne angrily denied the allegations in an interview with DailyMail.com, calling the allegations “all c ** p”.
“In such situations, you will always get people with whom you have had misunderstandings in the past, people who have axes, who come out of the wood and will go out with BS and that is it. It doesn’t surprise me at all. It doesn’t surprise me, ‘she said.
– Of course, it’s a bunch. People want to add fuel to the fire and it comes with the territory and it’s okay, “said Osbourne.
She added: “Being accused of racism is not a joke. Now they take their sweet revenge. I can’t even address myself because there are children in a school yard.
“Coming out with stupid, childish comments – is it like? Is that all you have?
Asked if she ever called Chen a wonton, she added, “Everything is c ** p. Everything is c ** p. I don’t want to go there with her. She lives from people. So it’s like come on.
– It has no real basis. The accusations of naming an ordinary Chinese lady, is like – is that all you have? Is it like?
Osbourne gained TV fame with the 2002-2005 reality show The Osbournes, which she produced and starred with her heavy metal rock husband, Ozzy Osbourne, and two of their three children.
Sharon Osbourne, manager of her husband and other musicians, was a judge on the British show The X Factor and on America’s Got Talent.