The CBS daytime discussion show The Talk is returning to screens on Monday following a month-long hiatus after Sharon Osbourne left the program amid controversy.
Osbourne's departure came following a heated exchange between herself and co-host Sheryl Underwood over a debate that saw her spring to the defense of her friend, and fellow Brit, Piers Morgan, over accusations of racism.
Monday's show featuring Sheryl Underwood, Carrie Ann Inaba, Amanda Kloots, and Elaine Welteroth is to resume featuring a discussion about race and healing.
Sharon Osbourne left The Talk after defending her friend Piers Morgan's criticism of Meghan Markle. She demanded her black co-host, Sheryl Underwood, explain her claim that Morgan's criticism was racist
On The Talk, Osbourne defended Morgan in an on-air debate with co-host Sheryl Underwood, which turned heated as Osbourne demanded 'educate me' on how Morgan is racist
An expert on how to have difficult conversations about diversity, equity, inclusion and justice is offer advice to the group along with experts on how to heal after a difficult conversation.
The advice comes too late for Osbourne who forced to leave the show following the fallout on March 10th, after which the show was placed on hiatus.
CBS said Osbourne had decided to leave the show after a review that found in part that 'Sharon's behavior toward her co-hosts during the March 10 episode did not align with our values for a respectful workplace.'
The network said its internal inquiry said the show's co-hosts, including Osbourne and Sheryl Underwood, were not properly prepared by the show's team for a discussion on race. But it said there was no evidence found to support Osbourne's claim CBS ordered she be confronted about her support of Morgan.
Osbourne (far right) and Underwood (second from left) got into a heated exchange over Osbourne's support for her friend Piers Morgan (third from left), who has come under fire for comments he made about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. Morgan posted this photo in February 2020 of the show's former panel from last year. From left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Underwood, Morgan, Marie Osmond, and Osbourne
Morgan, who is a friend of Osbourne's, left Good Morning Britain after saying he didn't believe Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, when she said in an interview that she had considered suicide when unhappy with her life in Britain's Royal Family.
During the discussion of Morgan, Underwood asked Osbourne, 'What would you say to people who may feel that, while you're standing by your friend, it appears that you gave validation or safe haven to something that he has uttered that is racist, even if you don't agree?'
Osbourne replied angrily, using words that were bleeped out, and said she felt like she was being placed on 'the electric chair' for having a friend that some people think is racist.
'I very much feel like I'm about to be put in the electric chair because I have a friend, who many people think is a racist, so that makes me a racist?' she said.
Underwood, who is black, pushed back and accused Osbourne of downplaying Morgan's comments.
'Educate me, tell me when you have heard him say racist things,' Osbourne said.
The Talk has been on a month-long hiatus following the heated on-air debate but Osbourne was essentially forced to quit the show
After a commercial break, the discussion continued with Osbourne telling Underwood at one point: 'Don't try to cry. If anyone should be crying, it should be me.'
Osbourne later issued an apology for her 'panicked' defense of Morgan.
CBS said it had conducted workshops and training 'about equity, inclusion and cultural awareness for the hosts, producers and crew.'
'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,' a statement revealed.
'During this 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,' CBS said.
Earlier this week, Piers Morgan praised Osbourne for defending his right to an opinion even at the cost of her job, accusing CBS of 'hypocrisy' for forcing her out at The Talk
'When it really mattered, when the chips were down for me, she was there, she was a loyal friend. And my God has she paid for that loyalty,' Morgan said of Osbourne (with him above)
After The Talk went on hiatus allegations emerged that Osbourne had made racist or otherwise crass remarks about co-hosts behind the scenes at the show.
Former co-stars Julie Chen and Leah Rimini publicly came out to complain that Osbourne once referred to Chen as 'a wonton' and Rimini as being 'ghetto'.
A report from Yashar Ali also alleged that Osbourne called former co-host Sara Gilbert a 'fish eater,' among other things; Gilbert is a lesbian.
CBS extended The Talk's hiatus for yet another week after Osbourne was accused of frequently calling former co-host Julie Chen a 'wonton' and 'slanty eyes'
Osbourne furiously denied the allegations in an interview with DailyMail.com, calling the claims 'all c**p'.
'In situations like this, you're always going to get people who you've had disagreements with in the past, people who've got axes to grind, who come out of the woodwork and they'll come out with their BS and that's it. It doesn't surprise me at all. It doesn't surprise me,' she said.
'Of course, it's a pile on. People want to add fuel to the fire and it comes with the territory and that's fine,' Osbourne said.
She added: 'Being accused of racism is no joke. Now they get their sweet revenge. I can't even address it because it's kids in a schoolyard.
'Coming out with stupid, childish comments – it's like really? That's all you've got?'
Asked if she had ever called Chen a wonton, she added: 'It's all c**p. It's all c**p. I don't want to go there with her. She makes her living out of outing people. So, it's like come on.
'It's got no real foundation. Allegations of calling a Chinese lady a wonton, it's like – is that all you've got? It's like really?'
Osbourne gained TV fame with the 2002-2005 reality show The Osbournes which she produced and starred in alongside her heavy-metal rock star husband, Ozzy Osbourne, and two of their three children.
Sharon Osbourne, a manager for her husband and other musicians, was a judge on the British talent show The X Factor and on America's Got Talent.
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