Will Sharon Osbourne exit 'The Talk'? CBS may be 'done' with host following her on-air defense of Piers Morgan
Sharon Osbourne could be headed for an exit from CBS' 'The Talk' following the network halting live shows of the program after Osbourne had a heated exchange with her co-host regarding British talk show host Piers Morgan's comments on Meghan Markle's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey.
CBS decided to put 'The Talk' on a brief hiatus while the network launched an investigation into the exchange between Osbourne and co-host Sheryl Underwood over Morgan's comments on Meghan speaking out about her mental health during her time with the British royal family. Live shows of 'The Talk' for Monday, March 15, and Tuesday, March 16, were called off. The CBS show is expected to be back with a live show on Wednesday, March 17.
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During the Wednesday, March 10, episode of 'The Talk', Osbourne lashed out at those who criticized her for her defense of Morgan, who said he doubted Meghan's statements during her interview with Winfrey, which aired on CBS on Sunday, March 7, including her suicidal thoughts.
Osbourne defended Morgan and told Underwood, who was in tears, that he was just expressing an opinion, saying, "I know he has a right to say what he feels on the interview, as we have a right to say and everybody has a right to say what they feel with freedom of speech." She then asked Underwood not to cry, "Because if anyone should be crying, it should be me."
Osbourne later alleged that CBS executives allegedly ordered 'The Talk' producers to have her co-hosts "blindside" her with questions over her defense of Morgan, telling Variety, "I blame the network for it. I was blindsided, totally blindsided by the whole situation. In my 11 years, this was the first time I was not involved with the planning of the segment.”
She said she was "caught off guard and stunned" at Underwood's questions and that she was "not prepared" and felt like she was in "front of a firing squad." Osbourne told Variety that it was only eight minutes before the show began that she was called by a showrunner to confirm whether it would be alright to ask her about Morgan.
She said, "I’m a big girl. I’m a professional. However, CBS blindsided me. I don’t know why they did it to me. The showrunners told me it came from executives to do this to me."
A source told The Sun regarding the controversy, "This is the worst time in the history of the show. The network execs are furious that their Grammys night was interrupted by dealing with the show's drama. Heads are going to roll."
The source continued, "They may pay off Sharon the rest of her $5 million dollar contract and be done after she called out the network for making producers ambush her. But also possible she will not be let go."
The source also added, "There is too much to sort out, so the show won't be live Monday or Tuesday or maybe even this whole week. One thing is for sure those hosts can never share the same stage again. The damage is done."