Defiant Sharon Osbourne blamed her “disgruntled” former co-stars on “The Talk” for forcing her off the CBS daytime show last month amid the uproar over her on-air exchange with co-host Sheryl Underwood. .
Osbourne spoke out publicly for the first time since she parted ways with “Talk” and CBS on March 26 after 11 years. During a performance on the Friday edition of HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher,” Osbourne cited allegations of racist behavior from hosts as the reason why she was quickly let go by CBS. Osbourne and Maher also chuckled about ‘awake language’ and the heightened sensitivity surrounding racial and ethnic equality issues in pop culture.
‘I’m used to being lashed out. A racist is one I will not accept, ”Osbourne told Maher.
Osbourne became the last original panelist to leave ‘Talk’ after her heated discussion with Underwood about British TV personality Piers Morgan that took place live on March 10. Osbourne scolded Underwood, claiming that she was labeled a racist for expressing her support for Morgan, her longtime boyfriend Morgan. Morgan generated a huge backlash in the UK and US last month after devastating Meghan Markle and voicing doubts about allegations she made in her headline-making interview with Oprah Winfrey last month.
After the March 10 episode, Leah Remini and Holly Robinson Peete, the former Talk co-presenters, came forward with allegations that Osbourne had used insults and made other racist remarks during her stay on the show.
Osbourne described them to Maher as “disgruntled ladies” and denied Remini’s claim that Osbourne was making racist comments about the Asian ethnicity of former “Talk” co-host Julie Chen Moonves. “I never, never said that,” said Osbourne. ‘I don’t even use those words; they are not in my vocabulary. “
Osbourne told Maher she would be okay in the long run, but she denounced what she described as “ canceling culture, ” affecting the livelihoods of those who express opposing views.
“I’m fine,” she said. ‘W.hat about the people who have been cut off their knees who cannot afford to be taught now about what is politically correct? What will happen to them? It’s not fair. It’s not about being a racist. It may not know what is correct and woke up that day to your language. It changes from day to day which is correct. “