Sharon Osbourne denied Holly Robinson Peete’s accusations that she complained that Peete was “too ghetto”. Peete claims that the alleged comment played a role in removing her as the host of The conversation in 2011, after just one season.
“In reply to [Peete’s] charge of getting her fired [The Talk] and saying that she was ‘too ghetto’ to be The conversation“, Osbourne wrote on Instagram.” I never said those words and am sharing an email sent to me by Holly a month after she was released from CBS. As I stated before, I never had the ability / authority to get someone fired from [the show] and Ms. Peete’s email speaks for itself. “
There is a screenshot of an email allegedly from Peete, in which the actress appears to blame Julie Chen for her removal from the show, instead of Osbourne. Chen co-hosted on The conversation until 2018, when her husband, Les Moonves, was removed from the position of president and CEO of CBS due to several allegations of sexual misconduct.
“CBS is causing backstage damage to my career with other studios and networks …” Peete reportedly wrote to Osbourne. “And now Les is getting involved – lying completely, defending Julie.”
This public war of words between Peete and Osbourne was triggered by the reaction that Osbourne received after she defended Piers Morgan last week after his departure as co-host of the Good morning Great Britain. Morgan has repeatedly criticized Meghan Markle, even questioning her sincerity when she talks about her ongoing struggle with her mental health. Osbourne said that, despite disagreeing with Morgan, she supported him because he is his friend and she respects her right to share her opinion.
Osbourne was then confronted in The conversation by co-host Sheryl Underwood, who told Osbourne that his defense of Morgan was seen by many as an excuse for his racist behavior. Osbourne responded by asking Underwood to point out an example of Morgan saying something racist, to which Underwood replied that “it is not the exact words of racism, it is the implication and the reaction to him”.
As a result of the tense confrontation, CBS launched an internal review, while Osbourne tweeted an apology for his response when questioned by Underwood.
“For anyone of color who I offended and / or for anyone who is confused or disappointed by what I said, I am really sorry,” she wrote. “I panicked, I felt taken aback, I became defensive and I allowed my fear and horror of being accused of being racist to take over.”
Peete responded to the drama by accusing Osbourne of forcing her to leave the show for being “too ghetto”.
Am I old enough to remember when Sharon complained that I was too “ghetto” to #the conversation… so I left💨
I bring this up now because I was mortified to see the disrespectful and condescending tone she took with her co-host, who remained calm and respectful because … she HAD to …#fbf https://t.co/7pnCnhM5rf pic.twitter.com/CXR4DzvlEZ– Holly Robinson Peete😷🥰 (@hollyrpeete) March 12, 2021
Osbourne put most of the blame on CBS for the entire incident, saying she was “totally taken aback by the whole situation”, as she said she was asked just before the show if it was okay if she was asked about her defense Morgan.
“I was honestly in shock,” said Osbourne Variety. “I felt like I was standing before a firing squad. I felt like a lamb ready for slaughter.”
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