CBS has extended The Talk’s hiatus for yet another week after Sharon Osbourne was accused of frequently calling former co-hosts Julie Chen a ‘wonton’ and Sara Gilbert, who is a lesbian, a ‘fish eater’ – but her publicist hit back saying she’s ‘hardly surprised by the lies’.
The recent claims against the 68-year-old came from sources who spoke to journalist Yashar Ali in a week where the network announced it had launched a probe into her on-air bust up with co-host Sheryl Underwood.
She has faced criticism since her an televised row with Underwood last Wednesday, after Osbourne was accused of being racist for defending her friend Piers Morgan in the wake of his Meghan Markle comments.
Insiders told DailyMail.com that Osbourne was ‘set up to fail’ by CBS executives over her defense of Morgan, in a bid to oust her – the highest paid host – from the show.
But several sources, including former co-hosts Leah Remini and Holly Robinson Peete, have since alleged that Osbourne has a history bullying and racist language.
CBS has extended The Talk’s hiatus for yet another week after Sharon Osbourne was accused of frequently calling former co-host Julie Chen a ‘wonton’ and ‘slanty eyes’. They are pictured above together in 2015
Sources have claimed Osbourne repeatedly referred to then-co-host Julie Chen (center) as ‘wonton’ and ‘slanty eyes’. They also claim Osbourne referred to then co-host Sara Gilbert (right), who is a lesbian, as a ‘p***y licker’ and ‘fish eater’
Osbourne is accused of calling lesbian actress Gilbert, who left the show in 2019, a ‘p**** eater’
The Talk: Sheryl Underwood, Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Eve and Julie Chen
Osbourne is the only original host left on the show, which began in 2010 with Chen, Gilbert, Remini, Marissa Jaret Winokur, and Holly Robinson Peete.
The sources say Osbourne repeatedly referred to then-co-host Chen as ‘wonton’ and ‘slanty eyes’.
They also claim Osbourne referred to another then co-host Sara Gilbert, who is a lesbian, as a ‘p***y licker’ and ‘fish eater’.
In response to the claims involving Chen and Gilbert, Osbourne’s publicist Howard Bragman said the talk show host was ‘disappointed but unfazed and hardly surprised by the lies’.
‘The only thing worse than a disgruntled former employee is a disgruntled former talk show host,’ he said.
‘For 11 years Sharon has been kind, collegial and friendly with her hosts as evidenced by throwing them parties, inviting them to her home in the UK and other gestures of kindness too many to name.
‘Sharon is disappointed but unfazed and hardly surprised by the lies, the recasting of history and the bitterness coming out at this moment.
‘She will survive this, as she always has and her heart will remain open and good, because she refuses to let others take her down.’
Osbourne has found herself at the center of a race row ever since she defended her longtime friend Morgan during a heated on-air discussion with Underwood last week.
Osbourne has faced criticism over her an on-air feud with Underwood after she was accused of being racist for defending her friend Piers Morgan in the wake of his Meghan Markle comments
The Talk was initially put on hiatus until Wednesday while executives investigated. Following the Chen and Gilbert allegations, CBS issued a statement saying it had extended the broadcast suspension until next Tuesday
Morgan was ousted by British breakfast TV show Good Morning Britain after saying he didn’t believe a word Meghan Markle said during her Oprah special.
It later emerged that the Duchess of Sussex had personally complained to ITV about Morgan’s comments.
On Friday Robinson Peete, who is black, wrote: ‘I’m old enough to remember when Sharon complained that I was too ‘ghetto’ for #theTalk … then I was gone.
‘I bring this up now bc I was mortified watching the disrespectful condescending tone she took w/her co host who remained calm & respectful because … she HAD to.’
Osbourne replied on Saturday, tweeting in response to Robinson Peete’s accusation: ‘Never in my life did I utter the words that Holly was ‘too ghetto’ to be on the Talk, as well as not having her fired.’
Osbourne, via her attorney, sent a cease-and-desist letter to Robinson Peete demanding she take down her tweet within 24 hours or face litigation, Ali claimed. It currently remains online.
Osbourne told Variety of the accusation: ‘It’s an absolute lie—a 110 percent lie. I cannot have anyone fired.
‘And that is not a term I use. That’s not in my vocabulary. I don’t speak like that.
‘The only ghetto I know is the Warsaw Ghetto, and I think that’s the only time I’ve ever referred to something like that.’
Ali then tweeted a clip of Osbourne in 2011 dismissing Remini’s Brooklyn accent and language as ‘ghetto’.
1. Exclusive: Sharon Osbourne, co-host of the CBS daytime panel show ¿The Talk,¿ would frequently refer to then-co-host Julie Chen, who is Chinese American, as ¿wonton¿ and ¿slanty eyes,¿ according to multiple sources. https://t.co/6A4DrRnSVx
— Yashar Ali ¿¿ (@yashar) March 16, 2021
Leah Remini, who was a co-host of The Talk for the first season, accused Osbourne of racism
Remini told Ali that even Osbourne took her to lunch in August 2010 – before the show started filming – and tried to persuade her to join in ousting Robinson Peete as a co-host.
Remini said that Osbourne told Remini she learned from the experience that ‘Holly wasn’t a good person, not to trust her and that we should find ‘another black person who is funny.’ ‘
Remini was fired after one season, and accused Osbourne of being behind her ousting.
Remini told Ali she deeply regrets not saying anything about Osbourne’s remarks about Robinson Peete at the time.
‘Not only did I do nothing about the racism and bullying I was receiving and witnessing, I was party to it,’ Remini said.
‘I had to own up to my own ugly.’
Remini called the show a ‘toxic environment’ and said she was ‘easily manipulated into a web of high school vitriol, hatred and bullying.’
The row between Osbourne and her co-hosts began after Osbourne tweeted in support of Morgan shortly after his departure was announced, saying: ‘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.’
The following day, Osbourne asked producers if she could do a monologue to clear the air after being subjected to a backlash but bosses insisted she take part in a debate with Underwood instead, DailyMail.com insiders have revealed.
The insiders say Osbourne was ‘set up to fail’ by CBS bigwigs over her defense of Morgan and was forced to take part in the on-air debate.
Osbourne has since said she was ‘blindsided’ by Underwood and CBS and horrified to be called a racist for her defense of Morgan.
The Talk was initially put on hiatus until Wednesday while executives investigated.
Following the Chen and Gilbert allegations, CBS issued a statement saying it had extended the broadcast suspension until next Tuesday.
‘CBS is committed to a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace across all of our productions. We’re also very mindful of the important concerns expressed and discussions taking place regarding events on The Talk,’ a statement from the network said.
‘This includes a process where all voices are heard, claims are investigated and appropriate action is taken where necessary. The show will extend its production hiatus until next Tuesday as we continue to review these issues.’