Apparently Sharon Osbourne is at the center of the storm surrounding the daytime TV talk show titled simply “The Talk.” The CBS network recently put the show on what it calls a hiatus, suspending production for an indefinite period.
“The Talk” announced suddenly that there would not be new installments on Monday or Tuesday. Now the network says that the show will not return with new programs until next week. Rumors have abounded as to what, exactly, is really going on behind the scenes. Well now its fans might just have gotten an answer.
At first, people thought that the problem was Osbourne’s defense of her close friend Piers Morgan after he was fired from his British morning TV news show. This happened after Morgan denigrated Meghan Markle repeatedly for her Oprah Winfrey interview. Some associated a lack of support for Markle’s claims of racism with a defense of racism.
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“They weren’t protected. They should have been. But they’ve made their decision to leave” — @MrsSOsbourne pic.twitter.com/mFbodwZeUA
— The Talk (@TheTalkCBS) March 9, 2021
At first Osbourne tried to set the record straight the way that all celebrities do these days, with a Tweet. She tweeted an apology saying, “To anyone of color that I offended and/or to anyone that feels confused or let down by what I said I am truly sorry.”
But now we know that there is a lot more to the story than that. So what did Sharon Osbourne do that was so terrible? Well it has now come out that she used offensive and racist language when referring to her co-hosts. Asian American Julie Chen was once a panelist on “The Talk.” Osbourne reportedly was referred to her derogatorily as “slanty eyes.” Sarah Gilbert is another one of Osbourne’s co-hosts. Gilbert is a lesbian and Osbourne is said to have called her a “p—y licker.”
Former “The Talk” panel member Leah Remini is the one who made these revelations. She did so in an interview with journalist Yashar Ali. Julie Chen is married to former CBS boss Les Moonves. Apparently Sharon Osbourne felt that Chen took advantage of having the network’s leader as her husband and once said of her, “I mean, who the f–k does slanty eyes think she is? She shouldn’t be pillow-talking with our boss.”
Osbourne also called Chen the “wonton.” Referring to Sarah Gilbert with derision she allegedly once said, “Why won’t the p—y licker do anything about the wonton?” and “Why won’t the fish-eater be part of this discussion? She’s the f–king executive producer.”
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So now Sharon Osbourne is fighting back. Her spokesperson Howard Bragman told CNN, “The only thing worse than a disgruntled former employee is a disgruntled former talk show host. 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.”
CBS has released a statement explaining its position saying that the network is “committed to a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace across all of our productions. We’re also very mindful of the important concerns expressed and discussions taking place regarding events on The Talk. This includes a process where all voices are heard, claims are investigated and appropriate action is taken where necessary. The show will extend its production hiatus until next Tuesday as we continue to review these issues.”