US chat show The Talk has been pulled off air following Sharon Osbourne’s row with co-host Sheryl Underwood.
The panelists clashed after Sharon voiced her support for former GMB host Piers Morgan, who made comments claiming he ‘didn’t believe’ Meghan Markle’s mental health struggles.
Sheryl believed Sharon ‘gave validation’ to his ‘racist’ views.
Now, TV network CBS has taken the show off air for two days – Monday and Tuesday – as it launches an internal investigation.
Former X Factor judge Sharon has since apologised to ‘anyone of colour’ and revealed she felt ‘panicked, felt blindsided [and] got defensive’ after she was accused of being racist for defending her pal.
The Talk has been pulled off air following Sharon Osbourne’s row with co-host Sheryl Underwood (Image: CBS)
Last week, the remaining scheduled episodes of the show were cancelled, following a statement released by CBS, which read: “We are committed to a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace.
“All matters related to the Wednesday episode of The Talk are currently under internal review.”
The TV star told Variety on Friday she wasn’t aware she’d be speaking about Piers until eight minutes before the show went live.
US chat show The Talk (Image: cbs)
She told the outlet: “I blame the network for it. 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 the segment.”
Sharon added: “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.
Sharon defended her pal Piers Morgan (Image: pixel8000)
“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.”
The host said when The Talk went on a break, she was begging the producers to ‘stop, to please change subject’.
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After the show had aired, she wrote a public apology on Twitter.
She wrote: “To anyone of colour that I offended and/or to anyone that feels confused or let down by what I said.
“I panicked, felt blindsided, got defensive and allowed my fear and horror of being accused of being racist take over.”
Her friend Piers has since demanded CBS apologise on Twitter, writing on his page: “Sharon’s been shamed & bullied into apologising for defending me against colleagues accusing me of racism because I don’t believe Meghan Markle’s b******t.
“This is where we’ve reached. I demand an apology from those @TheTalkCBS bullies for their disgraceful slurs against ME.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
