CBS has taken the Emmy award-winning talk show The Talk off the air for another week after last week's discussion about racism between Sharon Osbourne and Sheryl Underwood got a little heated.
During a show last week, Sheryl challenged Sharon's support of her friend Piers Morgan, who had said on air that he said he didn't believe Meghan Markle when she said she had considered suicide and that she had been subjected to racism. Following over 41,000 official complaints to the network, Morgan exited Good Morning Britain. Sharon tweeted: "@piersmorgan 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."
Sheryl asked Sharon, "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?"
Sharon became angry and defensive as she responded to the question, saying that she felt like she was being put in the electric chair for having a friend that some people think is racist.
The discussion carried on after a commercial break, when Sharon, who was clearly still upset, told Sheryl, "And don't try to cry. If anyone should be crying, it should be me," adding, "Educate me! Tell me when you have heard him say racist things."
Sharon tweeted out an apology last Friday, which read in part, "I have always been embraced with so much love & support from the black community & I have deep respect & love for the black community," adding, "I panicked, felt blindsided, got defensive and allowed my fear and horror of being accused of being racist take over." However, the story doesn't end there.
On Tuesday, journalist Yashar Ali published a report alleging that Sharon referred to her former The Talk co-host Julie Chen as "wonton" and "slanty eyes." She also reported that Sharon called former co-host Sara Gilbert, who is openly lesbian, a "p---- licker" and "fish eater."
In response, Sharon spoke to the British paper The Daily Mail on Wednesday, sounding very unapologetic. She called the claims "crap, all crap" and even repeated the racist language she'd been accused of, saying, "Everyone's got an opinion or a story like the wonton story. It's like f--- off with your f------ wonton story. F--- off!" ~Sean Olegario
Update: Sharon Osbourne is no longer part of the show. CBS released a statement, which read in part: "Sharon Osbourne has decided to leave The Talk. The events of the March 10 broadcast were upsetting to everyone involved, including the audience watching at home. As part of our review, we concluded that Sharon’s behavior toward her co-hosts during the March 10 episode did not align with our values for a respectful workplace."
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