THE Talk staffers are “furious” with Sharon Osbourne after she claimed show producers “set her up” in her TV fight with co-host Sheryl Underwood.
On last Wednesday’s episode of The Talk, Sharon, 68, fought with her co-host Sheryl, 57, while defending her friend Piers Morgan over his harsh criticism of Meghan Markle through the years.
Sharon has come forward claiming she was “blindsided” by the segment and that she was “set up.”
A source exclusively told The Sun: “Producers are furious that they’re becoming the target. The staff is so angry that their livelihoods have been taken away from them, and their jobs are in jeopardy.
“The Talk can’t come back from this.”
Since the segment aired, former co-hosts Leah Remini and Holly Robinson Peete have come forward with racist allegations against Sharon.
The insider added: “Everyone at the show has turned on her. The Leah Remini claims put them over the edge. They think she can’t own her mistakes. They just want to distance themselves from her.
The source claimed staffers believe Sharon is “playing the victim.”
The insider added: “She says the investigation is to find out who set her up. The investigation is a HR investigation into a racially insensitive and hostile work environment.”
The Talk, which features Sharon, Sheryl, Carrie Ann Inaba, Elaine Welteroth and Amanda Kloots, is now “under internal review” with the network issuing a statement that they are “committed to a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace.”
The show has canceled all episodes for the remainder of the week, The Sun exclusively revealed.
Reps for Sharon and CBS did not respond to The Sun’s request for comment.
The drama started when Sharon defended her decision to stand by Piers, who quit Good Morning Britain after co-host Alex Beresford slammed him for his constant scrutiny of Prince Harry’s wife.
Sharon opened Wednesday’s episode: “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 claimed Piers showed “racial implications with the way he spoke about Meghan” last time he appeared on their talk show.
Sheryl continued to explain: “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.”
An emotional Sharon then rolled her eyes before saying: “I think it’s too late. I think that seed’s already sewn.”
On Thursday’s episode, Sharon and Sheryl did not issue any apologies.
A source told The Sun both sides “refused to apologize,” though Sharon did issue an apology on her Instagram page.
In an interview with Variety, Sharon “blamed the network” for the fight.
She said: “I was blindsided, totally blindsided by the whole situation. In my 11 years, this was the first time I was not involved with the planning of the segment.”
According to Sharon, she was only informed that there would be a focus on Piers a few minutes before the episode.
She claimed: “I said, ‘Sure, they can ask me whatever.’ But then I get on there, I say my piece and Sheryl [Underwood] turns around straight-faced, looks at me and is reading from a card with questions.
“I was just so hurt, caught off guard and stunned by what I was being asked and not prepared. I was honestly in shock. I felt like I was in front of a firing squad. I felt like a lamb held out for slaughter… They had me there for 20 minutes.
“I’m a big girl. I’m a professional. However CBS blindsided me. I don’t know why they did it to me. The showrunners told me it came from executives to do this to me.”
Former co-host Leah, who appeared on Season One, spoke to journalist Yashar Ali with claims that Sharon has a history of racist language.
Leah, 50, claimed Sharon said: “’I mean, who the f**k does slanty eyes think she is? She shouldn’t be pillow-talking with our boss.’”
She allegedly said of Sara Gilbert, according to Leah, “’Why won’t the p**sy licker do anything about the wonton? Why won’t the fish-eater be part of this discussion? She’s the f**king executive producer.’”
Former co-host Holly also came forward and claimed Ozzy Osbourne’s wife called her “too ghetto” and had her fired from The Talk, allegations Sharon denied on Instagram.
In an interview with Daily Mail, Sharon called the racist allegations “crap.”
She said: “Everyone’s got an opinion or a story like the wonton story. It’s like f*** off with your f***ing wonton story. F*** off! Everybody’s got an opinion and everybody’s got a voice – it’s fine.
“It’s about knowing somebody’s been called out for something and then somebody else is like, ‘yes!! I’m going to add something too.’
“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.”
She said of the fight: “They’d set me up. The producers never told me. If they’d said to me, listen, the execs here aren’t happy with what’s gone on with you and Piers – we’ve got to try and sort this situation out, the girls are going to ask you these questions, blah, blah. Bring me in on it. Don’t blindside me.
“If they’d said these execs aren’t happy, I’d have worked on it with them. But give me a chance. Don’t bloody surprise attack me on national TV live for 20 minutes when it was meant to be four other segments.”
Sharon, who is the only original cast member, added that while she hasn’t been fired yet, she’s “sure” it’ll happen.
She told the publication that she hopes the CBS investigation will determine who gave the order to “blindside her.”
The Sun reported executives and staff are “divided” over Sharon’s future on the talk show.
The insider said: “Some execs want Sharon gone. Some higher execs have argued that the show cannot survive without Sharon since she is the only known star.”
The source continued: “Some staff think Mrs. O needs to resign because the bad press is hurting the show and is impossible to recover from with Holly [Robinson Peete] speaking out and old clips surfacing.
“Others think Sharon is the only reason people watch the show. The other hosts are relative unknowns.”
The insider added: “There’s a gloominess around everything. Everything just feels dark and heavy.”
