Sharon Osbourne says the charges brought against her – including that she used racist slander and intimidation tactics against her The conversation colleagues – “are crap.”
While the program remains dark amid a CBS investigation into the allegations, Osbourne, 68, gave another interview, this time to the tabloid Daily Mail, following one with ET, defending themselves. This time, she addressed the new allegations made by season 1 co-host Leah Remini to journalist Yashar Ali, whom she called former co-host Julie Chen, an Asian American woman, “slender eyes” and “wonton”, and Sara Gilbert, a lesbian, an “asshole”. Osbourne called it a “pile”.
“In situations like this, you will always have people with whom you have had disagreements in the past, people who have axes to grind, who leave the den and leave with their bs and that’s it,” said Osbourne. “It doesn’t surprise me at all.”
And while “being accused of racism is no joke”, she said that what is happening now is “revenge” and bitter people – alluding to Leah Remini, a co-host of the first season and named source of Ali – “dating stupid. , childish comments. “
Asked specifically about what she allegedly said about Chen, she replied, “It’s all crap … It has no real foundation. Allegations of calling a Chinese lady a wonton, it’s like – is it all you have? Is it really like that?” ? “
Osbourne – who has been at the center of a racing storm since defending his friend Piers Morgan last week – added: “Everyone has an opinion or a story like the story of the wonton. It’s like f ** k off with yours damn wonton story. F ** k off! “
She said: “all these little people who want to launch a story about [Piers] or me from the 70s or 80s or whatever, it’s like f ** k you all, “she said.” I couldn’t care less. And I will not defend myself. It’s like, oh shut up. I am very busy. “
And she seemed to despise Remini specifically, saying, “I don’t want to go there with her. She makes a living from revealing people,” perhaps alluding to her Scientology research work. “So, it’s like come on.” (Remini also claimed that Osbourne called her an anti-Italian slander.)
As to what started it all – The conversationIn the March 10 program, in which she defended Morgan’s controversial criticisms of Meghan Markle – Osbourne says she was surprised by producers who were told, by CBS executives, to put her on the spot. CBS published Oprah’s interview with Markle and Prince Harry, and Osbourne suggested that the network was offended by Morgan’s criticisms of having received so much attention.
“I just think Piers spotted the perfect interview that was so well received in America,” she said. “Piers has stained everything for them and I think they are upset. Furious with me for defending him and I think that is it.”
Osbourne also said that he has since heard that producers asked The conversation co-host Elaine Welteroth to lead the segment that led to the racism debate, but she declined. So Sheryl Underwood took over and it got hot.
“I found out later, they asked Elaine to start the segment and she said, no, I’m not going to do that,” said Osbourne. “She kept saying, ‘Where’s the evidence that Piers is racist? Where’s the evidence? Show me.’ Of course, they couldn’t show her anything because there was nothing.” (Welteroth reportedly filed a complaint with CBS after the set insensitivity program on set.)
Osbourne called the whole thing – also including claims that she called former co-host Holly Robinson Peete, who is black, “ghetto” and waged a campaign to get her fired – “painful”, but said that as far as the more she tries to defend herself, the worse she will be looking for.
“It’s like that phrase that people use: ‘Oh, some of my best friends are black’ and you come out with ridiculous statements. Well, I’m not going to do that. Yes, I blew it on the show and I went crazy, I went crazy Crazy. “
But she says the result would have been different if she didn’t feel ready.
“If [producers] he said to me, ‘Listen, the executives here are not happy with what is going on between you and Piers. We have to try to resolve this situation. The girls are going to ask you these questions … ‘Tell me about it, “she said.” Don’t make me blind … Don’t surprise me on national television live for 20 minutes … We were made to talk about fucking Pepe Le Pew and they let it go. “
Osbourne – who previously said he is not sure whether he will return to the show regardless of the investigation’s findings – said he suspects he will be fired.
“I think they will use me as a lamb for the sacrifice and say goodbye,” she said. “It’s okay. It hasn’t happened yet, but I’m sure it will … So be it. I’m a big girl.”
Although it all came at a price, she added: “It has been a very, very bad week – a lot of mental pressure and a headache.”
Osbourne said earlier that Underwood, who led the segment, did not return his calls trying to apologize for the drama.
CBS said in a statement to Yahoo Entertainment: “CBS is committed to a diverse, inclusive and respectful work environment in all of our productions. We are also very attentive to the important concerns expressed and ongoing discussions about events at ‘The This includes a process in which all voices are heard, allegations are investigated and appropriate action is taken when necessary. [March 23] as we continue to review these issues. “
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