For Underwood, it’s forgiveness first
Co-host of “The Talk” reflects on Osbourne eruption
With her future on “The Talk” uncertain, Sharon Osbourne said in an interview Tuesday that she had apologized to Sheryl Underwood, her co-host on the daytime TV show, but hadn’t heard back from her friend.
However, Underwood already spoke out on her podcast about what happened on the show when Osbourne spun out during a conversation about racism. And Underwood sounded pretty zen about what had gone down.
“I thought I was talking with colleagues, and I thought we were having a great conversation,” Underwood said late last week on her podcast, “The World According to Sheryl.” “It didn’t go so great, part of it.”
“The Talk” has been on hiatus as CBS investigates the situation.
The 57-year-old Underwood, who had been acting as moderator on the roundtable, addressed
Osbourne’s outburst on her Friday and Saturday podcast episodes.
“The vibe for me was, this was already forgiven and over as soon as it was said,” Underwood said when asked about the atmosphere on the set after Osbourne, 68, was put on the spot about her friend Piers Morgan.
Osbourne had supported her former “America’s Got Talent” colleague after he trashed the former Meghan Markle and said he doubted claims she made during her recent Oprah Winfrey interview.
Underwood, who joined “The Talk” in 2011, said she didn’t feel any tension in the room after the conversation ended.
Osbourne got emotional during Wednesday’s exchange, coming close to tears and, according to Underwood, dropping F-bombs as the show went to commercial. When they came back from the break, Osbourne erupted, saying, “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. And for me, at 68 years of age, to have to turn around and say, ‘I ain’t racist.’”
Underwood said that, as moderator, she wanted to project stability. “During the commercial break, especially when you’re moderating, there are producers and technical people in your ear telling you what’s coming next,” the comic and actress said, so she didn’t really understand what Osbourne was saying to her then.
“I do think there was some stress and everything, but for me, I was more, ‘OK, I’ve got a certain amount of time to get to the dentist,’” she said.
Underwood said her phone was blowing up when she went to her dressing room, but she was heartened by what she saw on social media. Sure, there was criticism and negativity, but she said the bulk of the conversations she saw happening were heartening.
“Everybody was saying, ‘Sheryl: Grace. Discipline. Restraint.’ And talking about what would have happened if the roles were reversed,” Underwood said. She also noted, “There are things happening that I have no control over. I couldn’t stop ’em if I wanted to. I didn’t start it. I can’t stop it. All I can do is be ready for what God is telling me to do.”
Underwood said Osbourne asked to talk to her after the show, but didn’t go into whether a conversation took place.
Overall, Underwood said she was in a good place and full of “spiritual nourishment” from all the support she’d gotten.
“My mantra, my way of thinking, is always forgiveness first and right beside that is apology . ... ” she said. “Those two things go together. I don’t know what’s in Sharon’s heart. I don’t know what she’s feeling. The only feelings I can control … are my own.”