‘The Talk’ hosts discuss race in first show after Sharon Osbourne exit
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“The Talk” on hiatus as CBS reviews Sharon Osbourne’s heated defense of Piers Morgan’s comments about Duchess Meghan and her controversial response.
USA TODAY
“The Talk” returned on Monday after a heated on-air discussion about racism led to a month-long hiatus and the departure of host Sharon Osbourne.
Monday’s show brought hosts Sheryl Underwood, Carrie Ann Inaba, Amanda Kloots and Elaine Welteroth back together to discuss the March 10 episode and to talk “race and healing” with diversity, equity, inclusion and justice advocate Donald Grant as well as trauma therapist and life coach Anita Phillips.
The hosts also cleared up some “false narratives” they’ve seen in the media since the exchange.
“I want to be clear on this. I have not spoken to Sharon. I have not had a phone call from her,” Underwood said. She said “there were text messages to sent to me,” but she has not addressed them because of the “internal investigation.”
Underwood also addressed a common question: What would she do if she saw Osbourne?
“If she greeted me warmly and sincerely I would give her that back. We’ve been on this show together for 10 years,” she said. “When you friends with somebody, you stay friends.”
Sheryl Underwood speaks during a Nov. 10, 2020, episode of “The Talk.” (Photo: CLIFF LIPSON, CBS)
Sharon Osbourne leaves ‘The Talk’ following heated racism discussion; Piers Morgan weighs in
Welteroth shared the problematic message that she felt Piers Morgan sent to women and specifically women of color.
“I think when you deny a woman or a woman of color their truth and their experience, you’re not just denying them, you’re denying that to every woman and woman of color who sees themselves in this person’s story,” Welteroth said.
The rest of the show was dedicated to a conversation with Grant and Phillips, who offered resources to address anti-racism, white privilege, discussing racism with friends and family, and finding healing from traumatizing events.
The episode was the first since Osbourne and Underwood’s controversial discussion about Morgan and Duchess Meghan.
Sharon Osbourne is pictured during a Feb. 19, 2021, episode of “The Talk.” (Photo: Monty Brinton, CBS)
During the exchange, Osbourne said she felt she was “about to be put in the electric chair because I have a friend who many people think is a racist and that makes me a racist.” She was referring to Morgan, her former “America’s Got Talent” co-judge, who said he didn’t “believe a word” of Meghan and Prince Harry’s tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey.
When Underwood asked what she would say to people who felt it was racist to defend Morgan’s comments, Osbourne replied: “For me, at 68 years of age to have to turn around and say ‘I ain’t racist’ – what’s it got to do with me? How could I be racist about anybody? How could I be racist about anybody or anything in my life? How can I?”
Underwood sent the show to commercial as Osbourne continued speaking over her. Upon returning, Osbourne again prodded Underwood to “educate me,” adding, “Don’t try and cry, because if anyone should be crying, it should be me.”
Sharon Osbourne leaves ‘The Talk’ following heated racism discussion; Piers Morgan weighs in
The next day on Twitter, Osbourne apologized to “to anyone of color that I offended and/or to anyone that feels confused or let down by what I said.” “The Talk” then went on hiatus while CBS conducted an internal review of the discussion.
The network extended the talk show’s hiatus days later as some of Osbourne’s former co-hosts, including Holly Robinson Peete and Leah Remini accused her of racist behavior. Osbourne claimed on March 16 that she was being set up and sent out as the show’s “sacrificial lamb” for defending Morgan.
‘The Talk’ extends hiatus; Sharon Osbourne says she’s ‘been set up’ after heated exchange
On March 26, the network said in a statement that Osbourne’s behavior on the March 10 episode “did not align with our values for a respectful workplace” and that Osbourne decided to leave “The Talk,” which she has hosted since 2010.
Morgan tweeted that Osbourne’s departure is “an absolute disgrace” and that she was “bullied out of her job for defending me against an invented slur of racism because I don’t believe a liar.”
Piers Morgan amps up anti-Meghan Markle rhetoric in interview with Tucker Carlson
Contributing: Cydney Henderson, Hannah Yasharoff, Elise Brisco, Amy Haneline
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