Sharon Osbourne apologizes for defending Piers Morgan’s ‘racist’ remarks, Internet says ‘educate your friends’
When ITV announced on Tuesday, March 9, that British broadcaster, journalist, writer and television personality Piers Morgan will depart ‘Good Morning Britain’, a bunch of celebrities came to his support. One of them was British-American television personality, entertainment manager, producer, and author Sharon Osbourne, the spouse of Ozzy Osbourne, who pledged her allegiance to Morgan. Now, she has apologized for it.
In the aftermath of Morgan’s departure from the show, she wrote on Twitter, “.@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.”
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. @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.
— Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) March 9, 2021
Following that, Osbourne passionately defended Morgan, asking her co-hosts on 'The Talk' to give examples of when the former presenter on CNN and Daily Mail editor had been racist. Talking to Sheryl Underwood, her co-host, who was on the verge of tears, Osbourne said that she felt he was just expressing an opinion.
"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," Osbourne said. She then dabbed her eyes herself and asked Underwood not to cry, "Because if anyone should be crying, it should be me", proceeding to ask her to "educate" her about when Morgan had been racist.
Underwood said that the issue was more about Morgan's tone than his words. "It is not the exact words of racism," said Underwood. "It is the implication and the reaction to it. To not want to address that, because she is a Black woman, and to try and dismiss it or to make it seem less than it is. That's what makes it racist. Right now, I am talking to a woman I believe is my friend. I don't want anybody here to watch this and think we are attacking you for being racist."
Osbourne replied by saying, "I think it's too late. That seed is already sown." Her other co-host, Elaine Welteroth, said that it was a moment to "stand up for anti-racism". "When we give passes or give space to people who are saying damaging, harmful things, what we're kind of doing is permissing it," Welteroth explained. "And I think that's what people are reacting to."
Taking to Twitter again on Friday, Osbourne said, “After some reflection, after sitting with your comments and sitting with my heart I would like to address the discussion on The Talk this past Wednesday.”
She wrote that she has “always been embraced with so much love and support from the Black community” and that she has “deep respect and love for the Black community”. She said, “To anyone of color that I offended and/or to anyone that feels confused or let down by what I said, I am truly sorry. I panicked, felt blindsided, got defensive and allowed my fear and horror of being accused of being racist take over.”
“There are very few things that hurt my heart more than racism so to feel associated with that spun me fast! I am not perfect, I am still learning like the rest of us & will continue to learn, listen and do better,” she said. “Please hear me when I say I do not condone racism, misogyny, or bullying. I should have been more specific about that in my tweet.”
“I will always support freedom of speech, but now I see how I unintentionally didn't make that clear distinction. I hope we can collectively continue to learn from each other and from ourselves so we can all continue to pave the way for much-needed growth and change,” she said, concluding with, “The community on this platform means a lot to me. I hope we can all hold each other up with accountability, compassion, and love during this powerful time of paving the way for so much needed change.”
Her apology received mixed reactions from people. While some accepted it readily, others were not as forgiving. “But @MrsSOsbourne your boy @piersmorgan will never learn this lesson, so Instead of bs apologies why don’t you start educating your friends,” wrote a Twitter user. Even Morgan chimed in, and said, defending her: “Sharon's been shamed & bullied into apologising for defending me against colleagues accusing me of racism because I don't believe Meghan Markle's bullsh*t. This is where we've reached. I demand an apology from those @TheTalkCBS bullies for their disgraceful slurs against ME.”
But @MrsSOsbourne your boy @piersmorgan will never learn this lesson, so Instead of bs apologies why don’t you start educating your friends. https://t.co/sroFgq7xyp
— Megan H (@mm_eggs) March 12, 2021
Sharon's been shamed & bullied into apologising for defending me against colleagues accusing me of racism because I don't believe Meghan Markle's bullsh*t.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) March 12, 2021
This is where we've reached.
I demand an apology from those @TheTalkCBS bullies for their disgraceful slurs against ME. https://t.co/kguRA8KVPJ
Morgan drew heavy criticism for his comments on Meghan Markle following her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey and resigned as an anchor for ITV after storming off the set of the network’s morning show. Morgan's comments reportedly triggered more than 41,000 complaints to Britain's media regulator, Ofcom, which announced an investigation under its “harm and offense” rules.