Sharon Osbourne faces axe from US talk show after racism claims

Former X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne says she faces being axed from her US talk show after she defended Piers Morgan in a heated on-air argument and was subsequently accused of racism. 

Osbourne clashed with black co-presenter Sheryl Underwood in a discussion about racism on CBS show The Talk and said she felt like she was ‘about to be put in the electric chair’ for defending Morgan over his comments about Meghan Markle. 

Since then, sources have alleged to journalist Yashar Ali that Osbourne referred to a Chinese-American colleague as ‘slanty eyes’ and a lesbian co-host as a ‘fish eater’. 

Osbourne denied these claims through her publicist, who said she was ‘disappointed but unfazed and hardly surprised by the lies’. 

But the 68-year-old told Entertainment Tonight that ‘I don’t know whether I’m wanted’ any further on the CBS show, which has been put on hiatus until next week. 

Osbourne was embroiled in the race row after defending Morgan in the fallout from the bombshell Harry and Meghan interview which first aired on CBS ten days ago. 

Morgan departed from Good Morning Britain after saying he did not believe Meghan’s claims in the interview – a statement which he has since stood by. 

It later emerged that the Duchess of Sussex had personally complained to ITV about Morgan’s comments. 

Osbourne, who describes Morgan as a friend, defended him on Twitter by saying: ‘I am with you. I stand by you. People forget that you’re paid for your opinion and that you’re just speaking your truth.’ 

She then clashed with her co-host Sheryl Underwood, who is black, in an emotional discussion on the subject on their CBS show. 

Underwood asked her: ‘What would you say to people who may feel that, while you’re standing by your friend, it appears that you gave validation or safe haven to something that he has uttered that is racist, even if you don’t agree?’.  

Osbourne replied angrily, using words that were bleeped out, and said she felt like she was being placed on ‘the electric chair’. 

‘I feel like I’m about to be put in the electric chair because I have a friend who many people think is a racist so that makes me a racist,’ she said. 

The discussion continued after a commercial break. At one point Osbourne said to Underwood: ‘Don’t try to cry. If anyone should be crying, it should be me’. 

In the fallout from the on-air clash, CBS had cancelled The Talk’s episodes for Monday and Tuesday and the show was due to return on Wednesday.

However, CBS has now confirmed it will not be back until next week while an investigation is carried out.

Osbourne offered an apology last week ‘to anyone that I offended and/or to anyone that feels confused or let down by what I said’. 

‘I panicked, felt blindsided, got defensive and allowed my fear and horror of being accused of being racist take over,’ she said.  

Her statement also said: ‘I have deep respect and love for the black community’. 

But she has also since described herself as a ‘sacrificial lamb’, claiming the show’s producers later told her offscreen that CBS ‘executives’ had ordered she be confronted about her support for Morgan.   

And the row has since taken a further turn after journalist Yashar Ali published allegations that Osbourne had made racist comments about co-host Julie Chen. 

Ali cited sources including former co-host Leah Remini who claimed that Osbourne would frequently refer to Chen as ‘slanty eyes’ and ‘wonton’.

Sources also accused Osbourne of describing lesbian co-host Sara Gilbert as ‘fish eater and ‘p***y licker’, according to Ali.  

Howard Bragman, Osbourne’s representative, denied the claims against her. 

He said in a statement: ‘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. 

‘She will survive this, as she always has and her heart will remain open and good, because she refuses to let others take her down. She thanks her family, friends and fans for standing by her and knowing her true nature.’ 

Meanwhile another former co-host, Holly Robinson Peete, claimed that Osbourne had said she was too ‘ghetto’ for The Talk and that she had subsequently lost her job. 

‘I bring this up now [because] I was mortified watching the disrespectful condescending tone she took with her co host who remained calm and respectful because … she HAD to,’ Robinson Peete said after the clash with Underwood. 

Leah Remini had told Ali that Osbourne had taken her to lunch in 2010 and tried to persuade her to join in an effort to oust Robinson Peete as a co-host. 

Osbourne denied the allegation, saying: ‘Never in my life did I utter the words that Holly was ‘too ghetto’ to be on the Talk, as well as not having her fired.’  

She told Variety of the accusation: ‘It’s an absolute lie – a 110 per cent lie. I cannot have anyone fired.

‘And that is not a term I use. That’s not in my vocabulary. I don’t speak like that. The only ghetto I know is the Warsaw Ghetto, and I think that’s the only time I’ve ever referred to something like that.’ 

But Ali has tweeted a clip of Osbourne in 2011 dismissing Remini’s Brooklyn accent and language as ‘ghetto’.    

Addressing the Underwood row in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Osbourne admitted she had ‘got too personal’ but insisted she was not a racist. 

‘I wish we could go on and have an adult conversation calmly and work it out but I don’t know whether we can,’ Osbourne said.

‘I don’t know whether it’s gone past that. I would love to but I don’t know whether I even want to go back… I don’t know whether I’m wanted there.’ 

She added: ‘I can’t not own up. I said what I said. I got too personal with Sheryl. I should’ve never said stop her tears. She was hurting as I was hurting.

‘I love Sheryl, I’ve apologized to Sheryl, she’s not gotten back and I can understand. Sheryl needs her time,’ she said.

‘I am not a racist and if you can’t have a go at your friend who happens to be black, does that make me racist because I said certain things to my friend, but I said them on camera?

‘I will keep on apologizing to Sheryl, even if I decide not to go back, I will still keep apologizing to Sheryl.

‘I have nothing but respect and so much affection for Sheryl. I don’t want to hurt her,’ she continued.  

‘I let myself down. I let her down by losing my cool, by not centering myself to say, ‘OK, for some reason they’re doing this to me … you’re on national TV, stay calm, stay calm.’

‘And I didn’t. So. I blew it. But that does not make me a racist.’  

A CBS spokesperson said: ‘CBS 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.’