THE Talk staff fears Sharon Osbourne will quit the show after her on-camera fight with co-host Sheryl Underwood about Piers Morgan. Sharon, 68, opened Wednesday’s episode of The Talk explaining her decision to defend her friend Piers’ “freedom of speech” over his intense scrutiny of Meghan Markle over the years. When Sheryl, 57, and Elaine […]
THE Talk staff fears Sharon Osbourne will quit the show after her on-camera fight with co-host Sheryl Underwood about Piers Morgan.
Sharon, 68, opened Wednesday’s episode of The Talk explaining her decision to defend her friend Piers’ “freedom of speech” over his intense scrutiny of Meghan Markle over the years.
When Sheryl, 57, and Elaine Welteroth, 34, fired back that his comments of Prince Harry’s wife were racist, Sharon ended the segment in tears as she felt her co-hosts were insinuating she is racist for supporting him.
An insider told The Sun of the blowout: “Sharon stormed off the set furious before the taping was done, leaving Sheryl to close the show alone.
“Sharon is hurt that she was attacked on air. She feels she was made to look bad. She feels betrayed and that no one at the show has her back.”
The insider continued that everyone on the show is “petrified” the original cast member will quit.
The source added: “If Sharon quits the show will most certainly be canceled. No one will watch without Sharon.
“We are still the lowest rated of all network shows, down more than 30 percent from last year.”
Viewer reaction to the fight has been mixed, as many defended Mrs. O, while others took Sheryl’s side.
One fan wrote in defense of Ozzy Osbourne’s wife: “I can not believe what is happening on this show right now! I am no fan of Sharon Osbourne, but the fact that they’re attacking her over Piers Morgan’s stance on things is unbelievable!!”
A second commented: “Watching the show right now… it’s pathetic the way Sharon is getting attacked by these women… just for defending a friend’s free speech. Basically calling her a racist because of that then putting her in the position of having to defend herself when they KNOW she’s not a racist.”
A third wrote in support of Sheryl and Elaine: “I’m sorry Sharon, you are part of the problem where Piers Morgan is concerned. He’s been putting Meghan down for years, this isn’t the first time and you know it. And, as a friend, you should have sat down with him and explain how it looks to others.”
A fourth commented: “Sharon Osborne needs to calm down. When your friend is out of line, you check them if they are truly your friend. She needs to stop defending him.”
Sharon kicked off the episode by saying: “Why is it that because I supported a longtime friend and work colleague for years, people go ‘well you must be racist because he’s racist.’
“No. I support his freedom of speech. I’m not racist and neither is Piers racist.
“What have I ever said about anybody that’s racist? It’s not within me. It’s not in my soul.”
Sheryl disagreed with Sharon’s comments, as she acknowledged Piers showed “racial implications with the way he spoke about Meghan” last time he appeared on their talk show.
Sharon continued: “I have friends in my life and I speak up for my friend. If he ever needed me, I’d be there for him.
“But I 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.”
When Sheryl said “well…” Sharon screamed: “Well? Well what? Well what?”
Sheryl then tried to go to commercial break, but as cameras cut back to the studio, the mom-of-three was seen crying on set.
Sharon fired at her co-star when the show returned: “I’ll ask you again Sheryl because I’ve been asking during the break…
“Oh and don’t try to cry, if anyone should be crying it should be me! This is the situation… educate me, tell me where you have heard him say racist things. Educate me!”
Sheryl then explained: “It’s not the exact words of racism it’s the implication and the reaction to it. To not want to address that because she is a Black woman and to try to dismiss it, that’s what makes it racist.
“But right now I’m talking to a woman that is my friend and I don’t want anybody here to watch this and say we’re attacking you for being racist.”
Sharon then laughed and rolled her eyes before quipping: “I think it’s too late. I think that seed’s already sewn.”
On Monday, Piers resigned as host of Good Morning Britain after execs said they wanted him to apologize on air following his clash with the show’s weatherman, Alex Beresford, 40, over Meghan’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Alex criticized Piers for his reaction to Meghan’s claims she contemplated suicide and was racially abused by the royal family.
But Piers said he was not willing to apologize, and quit — ending his six-year stint on the morning show.
After it was announced he would not return, Sharon tweeted: “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.”
