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British television personality Sharon Osbourne lawyers up and leaves CBS’ The Talk. The talk show was under investigation due to Osbourne’s controversial altercation with co-host Sheryl Underwood on March 10, and the show has since been on hiatus.
Osbourne hired Eisner lawyer Jeremiah Reynolds to represent her and negotiate with CBS while under investigation. Osbourne was quick to hire Reynolds as her backlash grew.
On Friday, CBS announced that Osbourne is parting ways with the talk show as the network decided that Osbourne’s behavior did not align with its values. CBS concluded that they could no longer uphold a respectful workplace environment alongside Osbourne.
Broadcasted on The Talk, the controversy sparked when Osbourne described her relationship with her former co-judge on America’s Got Talent, Piers Morgan. Morgan openly said that he did not “believe a word” of Duchess Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s recent interview with Oprah Winfrey. To which Osbourne responded on The Talk that she felt like she was labeled a racist because people believe Morgan, her friend, to be a racist.
In response, Underwood asked Osbourne to explain what she would say to those who did find Morgan’s comments about the Duchess and Prince as racist to which Osbourne replied, “For me, at 68 years of age to have to turn around and said ‘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?”
The conversation heated up and the show went to a commercial. After the commercial break, Osbourne pushed Underwood to “educate her” and that if anyone should be crying it’s her.
The day after, Osbourne took to Twitter to apologize to those that she offended and anyone of color. CBS took action by launching an internal investigation of the conversation, and film production was temporarily suspended. CBS reported that their investigation found no evidence of executive orchestration.
Former co-hosts Holly Robinson Peete and Leah Remini have since come forward accusing Osbourne of racist behavior. Osbourne responded to their allegations saying that it was a setup.
Morgan responded to the controversial conversation reporting that Osbourne was justified in defending him. “As a result of their emotion-charged debate, during which Sharon became understandably enraged by the sheer injustice of seeing her friend who she knows isn’t racist being branded a racist with nothing to back it up, and seeing herself smeared in the process as a racist-sympathizer, she’s now been forced out of her job at The Talk after ten years in which she’s been by far its biggest star and most interesting panelist,” Morgan reported.
Morgan has also been active on Twitter. Morgan tweeted on Saturday that the situation is “an absolute disgrace that shames CBS.”
The show is “coordinating workshops, listening sessions and training about equity, inclusion and cultural awareness for the hosts, producers, and crew” during their off-air time in preparation for its return March 29, CBS reported.
Osbourne has yet to comment on her departure from The Talk.
