Sharon Osbourne has left US chat show The Talk after 11 years following a heated on-air debate about racism with her co-host Sheryl Underwood.
The show’s network CBS said in a statement late on Friday 26 March that Osbourne had decided to leave a show after a review, which found in part that her behaviour towards her co-hosts during the 10 March episode “did not align with our values for a respectful workplace”.
During the incident, Osbourne had defended her friend and fellow broadcaster Piers Morgan over his controversial criticism of a high-profile TV interview given by Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, and her husband, Prince Harry, with Oprah Winfrey.
This led to a clash with Underwood, who said Osbourne was giving “validation” to “racist views” in her support of Morgan.
Osbourne reacted strongly to the suggestion, claiming she felt like she was “about to be put in the electric chair”, as she clutched a tissue and told Underwood: “And don’t you try and cry, because if anyone should be crying, it should be me.”
She then demanded that Underwood explain to her how Morgan’s comments towards Markle might be deemed racist.
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Osbourne later issued an apology over the episode, saying she had “felt blindsided” and had let her “fear and horror of being accused of being racist take over”.
CBS took The Talk off air while it carried out an investigation.
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.
However, it said there was no evidence found to support Osbourne's claim that CBS ordered she be confronted about her support of Morgan.
There was no immediate comment from Osbourne's publicist. A replacement has not been announced.
CBS says the show will not return until 12 April.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
