SHARON BREAKS HER SILENCE!
AFTER DEFENDING PIERS MORGAN AND BEING FORCED OFF THE TALK, EMBATTLED HOST SHARON OSBOURNE FINALLY SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT
The decision was final. On March 26, CBS announced that Sharon Osbourne — the last original co-host on The Talk — was out after more than 10 years on the daytime chat show. The bombshell news came after the network launched an investigation into Sharon’s behavior during a heated March 10 discussion about racism and racist actions with cohost Sheryl Underwood. The intense exchange was sparked by Sharon’s defense of pal Piers Morgan, who had just been pushed out of his own U.K. morning show because of wildly unpopular comments he made about Meghan Markle’s mental health and her revelation that someone in the royal family questioned what her son Archie’s skin tone would be. For days, Sharon remained uncharacteristically quiet in the wake of her sudden departure.
Now she’s breaking her silence. Following the storm of controversy over her support of Piers, her defensiveness and aggressiveness during her confrontation with Sheryl, and shocking new allegations that she used slurs to describe former costars, Sharon, 68, is finally explaining what really happened behind the scenes at the show she led for a decade. “She can’t believe this is happening to her and has started telling her friends what really went down,”
a source tells In Touch. “She’s going through a bunch of emotions ranging from humiliation and devastation to bitterness and anger, and she’s ready for the world to hear what she believes is the truth: She was set up and pushed out!”
LIGHTING THE FUSE
It all started on March 9 when Sharon tweeted Piers, 56, “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.” The message came on the heels of his being forced to leave Good Morning Britain after more than 40,000 viewers attacked him for treating Meghan so harshly. (In her March 7 CBS interview, Meghan, among other things, said she felt suicidal while pregnant with Archie.)
After her March 10 confrontation with Sheryl, Sharon tried to mitigate the fallout. She tweeted an apology on March 12 to “anyone of color who I offended” and “anyone who feels confused or let down by what I said,” explaining that she “panicked, felt blindsided, got defensive and allowed my fear and horror of being accused of being racist to take over” when she got into it with Sheryl, 57. (In what seemed to be a slam, Sheryl later said, “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.”) Then Piers got involved, saying his friend had been “shamed and bullied into apologizing for defending me.” He also demanded an apology from The Talk, but one never came. Instead, CBS announced The Talk was going on an unplanned hiatus as it pursued an investigation.
The scandal exploded as new allegations surfaced. On March 16, journalist Yashar Ali wrote that multiple sources — as well as former Talk co-host Leah Remini — had claimed Sharon frequently used Asian slurs to describe fellow original co-host Julie Chen, 51, as well as lesbian slurs aimed at another original co-host, Sara Gilbert, 46. (Sharon’s rep denies it, insisting, “Sharon is disappointed but unfazed and hardly surprised by the lies, the recasting of history and the bitterness coming out at this moment.”)
IT GETS WORSE
Another former co-host, Holly Robinson Peete, 56, publicly accused Sharon of calling her “too ghetto” for the show and blamed Sharon for her 2011 departure after just one season (see above). “Never in my life did I utter the words that Holly was ‘too ghetto’ to be on The Talk [or have] her fired,” Sharon tweeted.
Days later, on March 26, CBS announced in a statement, “Sharon Osbourne has decided to leave The Talk,” noting her behavior “toward her co-hosts did not align with our values for a respectful workplace.” Basically, says the source, “she was fired,” adding that Sharon believes producers set up the confrontation between her and Sheryl not only for ratings but also to make her look like a racist and bully, which she insists she is not. CBS denies fabricating any on-air drama, saying in its statement the network “did not find any evidence that CBS executives orchestrated the discussion or blindsided any of the hosts.” It did, however, add, “At the same time, we acknowledge the network and studio teams, as well as the showrunners, are accountable for what happened during that broadcast, as it was clear the co-hosts were not properly prepared by the staff for a complex and sensitive discussion involving race.”
BUYING HER SILENCE?
CBS also denies reports claiming Sharon was paid $10 million to leave. “False, inaccurate or untrue. Take your pick,” a CBS spokesperson tells In Touch. But there are rumblings, according to sources, that Sharon may sue the network and walk away with a multimilliondollar payout. “Whether that deal includes a clause preventing her to talk about what happened remains to be seen,” says the source. “But Sharon has never been known to keep quiet about something she feels strongly about.”
For now, she’s waiting to make her next move. “I wouldn’t put it past her to write a tell-all,” says the source. “She must know where all the bodies are buried. Now that she’s left the show, what does she have to lose?” There’s also speculation she and Piers could team up since both are out of a job and thrive on controversy. “Sharon and Piers
have spoken since they both left,” adds the source. “It wouldn’t be surprising if they pitched their own chat show. They’ve discussed joining forces before and had a blast working together on America’s Got Talent [for five seasons until 2011].”
Sharon is still processing everything
that has happened, says the source. “She won’t admit her ego is hurt, but it’s obvious that she’s extremely bitter. She believes if it weren’t for her, The Talk wouldn’t be the hit it is today. Then to be pushed out so quickly? This isn’t over by a long shot.” ◼