Cyndi Lauper says Sharon Osbourne is not racist, but may have just “spoken wrong” as CBS continues to investigate claims of toxicity on the set of “The Talk.”
“I’ve known her for a long time and I don’t believe she’s racist,” the “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” singer declared on social media on Thursday.
She added, alongside a photo of herself and Osbourne hugging each other: ‘I understand she may have spoken wrong, used the wrong words and behaved in ways that hurt others. She may even have declined her apology. But I do believe she is genuinely trying to make things right. “
A bombshell report released Tuesday quoted multiple sources, including former ‘The Talk’ co-host Leah Remini, who claimed that Osbourne referred co-host Julie Chen, who is Chinese-American, as a ‘wonton’ and ‘slanty eyes’. She also reportedly referred to former co-host Sara Gilbert, who is a lesbian, as a ‘py-licker’.
Last weekend, Holly Robinson Peete, who co-starred with Osbourne on Season 1 of “The Talk”, also accused the Brit of saying she was “too ghetto” for the show.
Osbourne denied the charges, calling it a “pile”. However, she did excuse for her comments about Piers Morgan after defending his comments about Meghan Markle’s mental health, sparking a heated on-air discussion between her and co-host Sheryl Underwood.
Lauper went on to say that she could not sit and say nothing in defense of her boyfriend.
“We all make mistakes,” she said. “We all want to get a second chance, but no one wants to give it a second chance. We all want to be forgiven, but no one wants to forgive. “
The “Time After Time” singer reiterated that she thinks Osbourne is “sincere” about wanting to change, concluding, “I hope everyone will be willing to listen to her anyway.”
Fans had mixed feelings about Lauper’s feelings, but most agreed, “don’t defend this.”
One person wrote: ‘I love you and I love you [sic] able to choose your own friends … but a woman her age and celebrity knows exactly what they are saying … racism is not accepted. “
Another said: “Please understand that whether racism is intentional or unintentional … it is still racism !!! Once you are old enough to know the difference between right and wrong … there are no more excuses for it. racist behavior. “
Meanwhile, Osbourne’s future is still in the air at “The Talk”.
The CBS morning show is on hiatus as it investigates complaints of racial insensitivity, and there is apparently a behind-the-scenes blame game among producers over who is really responsible for Osbourne and Underwood’s on-air altercation.