Sharon Osbourne has exited “The Talk.” The co-host has departed the CBS talk show after coming under fire for defending Piers Morgan’s controversial comments about Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle’s revelatory interview with Oprah Winfrey earlier this month, followed by resurfaced accusations of racism made by former co-host Holly Robinson Peete. Osbourne had been on “The Talk” for all of its 11 seasons.
“Sharon Osbourne has decided to leave ‘The Talk,’” CBS said in a statement. “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. We also did not find any evidence that CBS executives orchestrated the discussion or blindsided any of the hosts.
“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,” the statement went on. “During this week’s hiatus, we are coordinating workshops, listening sessions and training about equity, inclusion and cultural awareness for the hosts, producers and crew. Going forward, we are identifying plans to enhance the producing staff and producing procedures to better serve the hosts, the production and, ultimately, our viewers.”
Morgan, the now-former host of ITV’s flagship show “Good Morning Britain,” said on Monday morning that he didn’t believe Markle’s claims of bullying within the Royal Family and that he did not believe that she experienced suicidality as a result of the high-stress situation. Osbourne went on to show support for her longtime friend:
(Excerpt) Read more in: Variety