The former co-host departed the
daytime show last March
By Stephanie Nolasco | Fox News
In March 2021, CBS announced the
outspoken TV personality "decided to leave" the long-running daytime
talk show following an intense discussion about race, a subsequent internal
investigation and a hiatus from the air.
Osbourne's exit took place a few
weeks after a heated exchange between the 69-year-old and co-host Sheryl
Underwood. At the time, Osbourne expressed support for "her very good
friend" Piers Morgan after he left "Good Morning Britain" over
differing opinions about Meghan Markle following the Duke and Duchess of
Sussex’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.
"They said to me, ‘You are
on permanent suspension. We don’t think that you’re repentant enough. And we
will decide whether you ever come back,’" Osbourne recalled her dismissal
to the U.K. Sunday Times.
"And I said, ‘Well, who’s
going to make that decision?’" she shared. "And they said, ‘We can’t
tell you.’"
On the March 2021 episode, the
co-hosts talked about Morgan's previous statements about Markle, which many
deemed racist. Osbourne clarified during the interview, however, that she did
not agree with Morgan's opinions, but pressed Underwood to "educate"
her about the racist undertones of his criticism of the 40-year-old. The former
reality star would later claim that executives set her up for the conversation.
Morgan left "Good Morning
Britain" after saying he didn’t believe the former American actress when
she told Winfrey that the intense isolation she felt inside the royal family
led her to contemplate suicide. Osbourne issued a public apology following her
remarks, but soon faced allegations amid reports that she herself was racist.
According to CBS, its internal
inquiry said the show’s co-hosts, including Osbourne and Underwood, 58, 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, 57.
Sharon Osbourne and Sheryl
Underwood attend the CBS Daytime Emmy Awards after party on April 30, 2017, in
Pasadena, California. (Matthew Simmons/Getty Images)
"The Talk" was on
hiatus when the March 10 discussion was investigated. CBS said it had conducted
workshops and training "about equity, inclusion and cultural awareness for
the hosts, producers and crew."
Osbourne said she was blacklisted
and received death threats from critics after she publicly endorsed Morgan’s
right to free speech.
"They were saying they were
going to come in the night, cut my throat, cut Ozzy [Osbourne’s] throat, cut my
dogs’ throats," Osbourne explained. "I said, ‘I ain’t going out, I
ain’t doing anything.’ I just couldn’t stop crying because all I was thinking
about was all the things that I’ve gone through in my life, and now they’re
calling me a racist. This is insanity."
"My phone as far as my TV
career here was nonexistent, not one call," she continued. "Nothing.
In England and Australia, it never changed. Here it was like I was dead."
Osbourne said she stayed at home
to avoid conflicts with the public. She later resorted to ketamine therapy to
help her endure the public backlash. The controversial drug has been used to
treat anxiety and depression.
"If you’re a person that
stuffs things – ‘I’m fine, I’m fine’ – this drug relaxes you," said
Osbourne about her experience. "You’re not out completely. You can hear,
you can talk, but you’re so relaxed, and you can’t bulls--- on it. It’s a truth
drug."