Sharon Osbourne.Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Sharon Osbournehas broken her silence about exitingThe Talk.
Osbourne, 68, opened up about her departure from the daytime series onReal Time with Bill Maheron Friday.The news of her one-on-one in-studio interview with hostBill Maherwas announced earlier this week.
During their conversation, Osbourne told Maher that she is upset at how the controversy unfolded.
“I’m angry, I’m hurt,” she said when Maher asked how she’s been feeling since her exit fromThe Talk. “I’ve been called so many things in my life… but a racist is one thing I will not take.”
CBSannounced Osbourne’s departurefrom the talk show on March 26. Her exit came afterthe series extended its hiatusfor a second time, PEOPLE confirmed, as the network continued to look into Osbourne’s behavior following her controversial defense ofPiers Morganon the March 10 episode.
In a statement about Osbourne’s exit from the show, CBS said that her behavior “did not align with our values.”
“Sharon Osbourne has decided to leaveThe Talk,” the statement read. “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.”
In addition to “coordinating workshops, listening sessions and training about equity, inclusion and cultural awareness for the hosts, producers and crew,” CBS also said that they “are identifying plans to enhance the producing staff and producing procedures to better serve the hosts, the production and, ultimately, our viewers.”
Sharon Osbourne.Stefanie Keenan/Getty
During the March 10 episode, Osbourne defended Morgan amid backlash for hiscontroversial remarksquestioning the validity ofMeghan Markle’s discussion on mental health during herrecent interview with Oprah Winfrey.
She added, “Disagreeing with someone does not make you a racist in my book.”
Osbourne later apologizedfor her “panicked” response to Underwood.
Osbourne added, “I hope we can all hold each other up with accountability, compassion & love during this powerful time of paving the way for so much needed change.”
Want to get the biggest stories fromPEOPLEevery weekday?Subscribe to our new podcast,PEOPLE Every Day,to get the essential celebrity, entertainment and human interest news stories Monday through Friday.
Osbourne told Maher Friday that she “never ever” used a slur referring to Remini.
“I don’t even use those words,” she said. “They’re not in my vocabulary.”
Of past feuds with formerThe Talkco-hosts, Osbourne said: “It’s disgruntled ladies.”
On March 16, journalist Yashar Ali published areportalleging that Osbourne used several racial slurs while referring to Chen, citing multiple unnamed sourcesas well as Remini.
Ali’s report further claimed that Osbourne referred to former co-host and executive producer Gilbert, who is lesbian, as a “p—- licker” and “fish eater.”
The week prior, Peete, who exited the daytime talk show in 2011 following its first season, claimed that Osbourne hadcomplained she was “too ‘ghetto,'“and alleged that it played a role in her departure.
RELATED VIDEO: Sherri Shepherd Reacts to Sharon Osbourne’s Controversial Conversation with Sheryl Underwood on The Talk
In a statement shared with PEOPLE following Ali’s report, Osbourne’s publicist, Howard Bragman,deniedall the allegations against her. CBS later announced thatThe Talkwouldextend its production hiatusas they “continue to review these issues.”
“CBS is committed to a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace across all of our productions,” reps for the show said in a statement to PEOPLE at the time. “We’re also very mindful of the important concerns expressed and discussions taking place regarding events onThe Talk. This includes a process where all voices are heard, claims are investigated and appropriate action is taken where necessary.”
The Talkreturned on Mondayfollowinga month-long hiatus. Remaining co-hosts Underwood,Carrie Ann Inaba,Elaine WelterothandAmanda Klootshad an open discussion about “race and healing.” While opening the show with a pre-recorded message, Underwood stated that the episode would be “unlike any other we’ve had before” as the co-hosts “process the events” from the March 10 episode.
Underwood said during the discussion that she didn’t want “to escalate things” at the time. “I thought I was having a conversation with a friend, but also I knew I had to be an example,” she said, noting that she “didn’t want to be perceived as the angry Black woman” and “wanted to remain calm and remain focused.”
source: people.com
