Sheryl Underwood disputes Sharon Osbourne’s claim about being ‘set up’

Sheryl Underwood last month delved into her heated meeting with her former “The Talk” co-host Sharon Osbourne and disputed Osbourne’s claim that she was “set up” by higher educated people at CBS.

The comedian discussed the incident on a new three-part episode of her podcast, “The World According to Sheryl,” in which he said Osbourne’s accusation that executives at CBS had written questions Underwood would ask Osbourne was untrue.

“What additional questions came from a supervisor?” one of Underwood’s podcast co-hosts asked during Saturday’s episode.

“None … none, none,” Underwood replied.

Osbourne had come under fire after shouting at Underwood on an episode of ‘The Talk’ on March 10, when the comedian questioned her about her support for Piers Morgan, who publicly expressed doubts about Meghan Markle’s experiences with racism and contemplation from suicide during her time as a working royal.

The show went on an extended hiatus after the exchange when the network conducted an internal review. CBS announced on March 26 that Osbourne’s on-set behavior “was not in line” with the network’s values ​​and that the panelist had decided to leave the show.

(See a video of the exchange below.)

Days after her tense meeting with Underwood, Osbourne had complained to Entertainment Tonight that she felt caught off guard by her co-host’s question, and accused executives of setting her up by not preparing her properly – which she says is the usual practice. Osbourne called himself a “sacrificial lamb.”

Sheryl asked me these questions, which I didn’t know – and they were written questions – and then Elaine’s [Welteroth] reading her questions, and I’m like, ‘I’m done.’ ”

In an interview with Variety published last month, Osbourne accused CBS executives of sending orders to have Underwood ask her about Morgan’s attacks on the Duchess of Sussex.

Elsewhere in her podcast, Underwood explained that she served as a moderator that week, holding cards while asking Osbourne to keep track of all the “other segments” and “other topics” that happened that day.

She said she had written down ideas of what to ask during the segment while talking to an executive producer.

So I start writing on my card and I talk to an executive producer – not that they tell me what to say, they help me form what I’m saying, and this is right before the show starts, ”Underwood recalled. ‘So I write on a marker,’ I would like to start with this and then I would like to go here and go there. … does that sound good? Does that sound concise? It doesn’t sound argumentative, does it? ”

“I’m thinking from the producer side, and I’m like, ‘How are you conducting this conversation?’” She added.

CBS noted in its statement about Osbourne’s departure that it “found no evidence that CBS executives orchestrated the discussion or blinded the hosts.”

“At the same time, we recognize that the network and studio teams, as well as the showrunners, are responsible for what happened during that broadcast, as it was clear that the co-hosts were not well prepared by the staff for a complex and sensitive discussion involving race. , ‘the statement continued.

On March 12, Osbourne offered an apology, addressed to “everyone of color,” for her behavior on the air earlier that week. Elsewhere in her interview with ET, she said she apologized to Underwood and that the comedian had “ not returned. ”

Underwood said on her podcast last weekend that she had not spoken to Osbourne since they were on set. Asked if Osbourne had called her, Underwood said “no.”

“I looked through my phone …” Underwood joked.

Underwood said later in the episode that she had received some text messages, although she had not indicated who they were from.

“I want to be clear, I received a text message from … people … and I don’t know if they want their business out on the street, but I’ll tell you [I was reached out to] to say, ‘I understand what you’re going through and I know you need your space,’ ”Underwood added later. “Those were text messages.”

Osbourne has since told the Daily Mail that she texted Underwood to apologize and shared what she said were those texts with the outlet.

Osbourne also said she personally apologized to Underwood in the locker room after the meeting. Underwood said on an episode of her podcast last month that Osbourne approached her immediately after the exchange and that the two “ flattened it. ”

Following Osbourne’s outburst – she demanded that Underwood ‘teach’ her how to perceive Morgan’s behavior as racist – journalist Yashar Ali reported being accused of making racist and homophobic comments about her former colleagues.

Osbourne denied those allegations through her publicist Howard Bragman, calling them “lies” and a “rearrangement of history.”