The Talk is off air while CBS investigates on-air clash.
Sharon Osbourne has parted ways with The Talk after being investigated by CBS for controversial comments she made on the show.
The network, her panel, and viewers alike claimed misconduct and that offensive language was used by Osbourne on the show while speaking to her co-hosts during a recent episode of the daytime talk show.
After concluding a probe into the heated March 10 discussion about race on The Talk, which forced the show into hiatus on March 12, CBS issued a statement saying that Osbourne (once a witty America’s Got Talent judge) made the decision to leave the show. The network also said The Talk will be back on April 12.
Here is the statement in full:
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.
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.
Osbourne was the last original Talk co-host to remain on the series after a tenure of 11 years. The primetime show premiered in 2010 with hosts Leah Remini, Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, Marissa Jaret Winokur and Holly Robinson Peete, in addition to Sharon.
The controversial comments were made by Osbourne while speaking about her support for Piers Morgan directly to Sheryl Underwood. Both TV personalities are British and appeared together as AGT judges early in competition show’s inception.
Morgan, the now-ex-Good Morning Britain co-host, insisted on UK TV just days before The Talk incident that he did not believe comments made by Meghan Markle to Oprah Winfrey in their televised interview that first aired on CBS on March 7. During the interview, Markle had claimed that members of the royal family and household made racist statements and disregarded her mental health issues.