The Real Reason Sharon Osbourne Was Fired From The Talk: A Deep Dive Into The 2021 Controversy

The dramatic and contentious exit of Sharon Osbourne from the CBS daytime show The Talk in March 2021 remains one of the most significant controversies in recent television history. Her departure, following an 11-season run as the last original co-host, was not a mutual decision but the result of a highly publicized on-air argument and a subsequent internal investigation by the network. As of December 18, 2025, the core reason for her firing centers on her passionate, tearful defense of her friend, British journalist Piers Morgan, against accusations of racism, which escalated into a tense confrontation with her co-host, Sheryl Underwood.

The incident spiraled far beyond a simple disagreement, triggering a network hiatus, a formal review, and the surfacing of past allegations of misconduct against Osbourne. The fallout led to a complete severance of ties between Osbourne and CBS, marking a sudden and permanent end to her tenure on the popular talk show. This deep dive explores the exact comments, the network's findings, the subsequent emotional toll on Osbourne, and the long-term impact on her television career.

Sharon Osbourne: A Brief Biography Profile

Sharon Rachel Osbourne (née Levy, later Arden) is an English and American television personality, businesswoman, and author, best known as the wife and manager of heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne.

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• Full Name: Sharon Rachel Osbourne (née Levy, later Arden)
• Born: October 9, 1952
• Birthplace: Brixton, London, England
• Age (as of 2025): 73
• Spouse: Ozzy Osbourne (m. 1982)
• Children: Aimee, Kelly, and Jack Osbourne
• Notable Career Highlights:
  • Manager of Ozzy Osbourne's career.
  • Star of the reality show The Osbournes (2002–2005).
  • Original co-host of the daytime talk show The Talk (2010–2021).
  • Judge on talent competitions like The X Factor (UK) and America's Got Talent.
  • Author of multiple best-selling autobiographies.

The Pivotal On-Air Clash: Defending Piers Morgan

The controversy that led to Sharon Osbourne's departure was ignited by her public support for Piers Morgan. Morgan, a long-time friend of Osbourne’s, had come under intense scrutiny and ultimately left the British morning show Good Morning Britain after making highly critical comments about Meghan Markle following her and Prince Harry's interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021. Morgan specifically stated that he did not believe Markle's claims of suicidal ideation and institutional racism within the Royal Family.

The March 10, 2021 Episode

On the March 10, 2021, episode of The Talk, the co-hosts discussed Morgan's departure from Good Morning Britain. Sharon Osbourne defended Morgan’s right to express his opinion, which quickly led to a tense, emotional exchange with her co-host, Sheryl Underwood.

• Osbourne's Stance: Osbourne argued that she supported Morgan's right to free speech and that she did not believe he was a racist. She tearfully demanded that Underwood explain exactly what Morgan had said that was racist.
• Underwood's Response: Underwood, an African-American co-host, maintained a composed demeanor, explaining that while Osbourne was defending her friend, the defense was inadvertently giving "safe harbor" to racist views. She stressed that the issue was not Osbourne's personal friendship with Morgan, but the implications of defending his comments in a public forum.
• The Escalation: The exchange became visibly heated. Osbourne repeatedly interrupted Underwood, demanding an explanation and at one point telling her, "Don't try and cry, because if anyone should be crying, it should be me." The moment was widely criticized by viewers and commentators for Osbourne’s aggressive tone and her apparent inability to listen to the perspective of a Black woman on an issue involving race.

The segment quickly went viral, drawing accusations that Osbourne's behavior was dismissive and disrespectful. The show immediately went on an extended hiatus to allow CBS to conduct an internal review of the incident.

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The CBS Internal Investigation and Firing

The network launched a formal investigation into the episode, scrutinizing the on-air events and the production environment surrounding the show. The inquiry was comprehensive, looking into the preparation for the segment and the atmosphere backstage.

Findings of the Review

On March 26, 2021, CBS announced that Sharon Osbourne would be leaving the show. The network released a statement confirming the results of its internal investigation:

1. The network found that Osbourne’s behavior during the March 10 episode "did not align with our values for a respectful workplace."
2. It was determined that the co-hosts and the network were ill-prepared for the conversation on Piers Morgan and race, indicating a failure in the show's production process.
3. The investigation also found that there was no evidence to support Osbourne’s claim that CBS executives or producers orchestrated the segment to "ambush" her, a claim she made in the immediate aftermath of the incident.

The official announcement stated that Osbourne "has decided to exit the show." However, the consensus in media circles was that her departure was effectively a firing, as the network decided to part ways with her following the investigation's conclusions. The network also extended the show's hiatus to allow for "further training and internal adjustments."

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The Surfacing of New Allegations

During the internal review, new, highly damaging allegations against Osbourne from former co-hosts and staff members were reported by various outlets. These claims further cemented the network's decision to sever ties. These allegations included claims that Osbourne had used racist and homophobic epithets when referring to former co-hosts Julie Chen and Sara Gilbert.

Osbourne vehemently denied these specific allegations, but they added significant weight to the narrative that her on-air confrontation was part of a larger pattern of misconduct and unprofessional behavior behind the scenes. The toxic workplace environment claims became a major factor in her permanent removal from the panel.

Life After The Talk: The Lasting Aftermath

The fallout from the incident had a profound and lasting effect on Sharon Osbourne’s personal and professional life. She has been vocal about the mental health struggles and professional isolation she experienced following her exit, which she has repeatedly referred to as being "canceled."

Mental Health and Therapy

In interviews following the incident, Osbourne revealed that the intense public and media scrutiny led her to seek professional help. She disclosed that she underwent ketamine therapy to cope with the trauma and the feeling of isolation that resulted from the controversy. This therapy was necessary to manage the severe emotional distress caused by the public backlash and the loss of her long-time role on the show.

The "Lamb Slaughtered" Revelation

Osbourne has used her platform since 2021 to offer her side of the story, most notably in a Fox Nation documentary series. In the series, she leveled harsh criticism at CBS, claiming she was set up and betrayed. She famously described herself as feeling like a "lamb slaughtered" that morning, maintaining that the producers blindsided her with the topic.

She has also appeared on her friend Piers Morgan's show, Piers Morgan Uncensored, where she continued to defend her actions, arguing that she was only defending a friend’s right to free speech and was unfairly branded a racist as a result. Her continued public defense, even years later, highlights the deep personal rift the controversy created.

The New Panel and Show Rebranding

The departure of Sharon Osbourne, the last remaining original host, marked a significant turning point for The Talk. After the extended hiatus, the show returned with the remaining co-hosts—Sheryl Underwood, Elaine Welteroth, Amanda Kloots, and Carrie Ann Inaba—who openly discussed the emotional impact of the controversy. Shortly after, Carrie Ann Inaba also took a leave of absence, and the show eventually brought in new permanent co-hosts, including Jerry O'Connell, completely reshaping the panel and signaling a new era for the show.

In summary, Sharon Osbourne was fired from The Talk not just for defending Piers Morgan, but because the heated, unprofessional nature of that on-air defense—specifically her aggressive tone toward Sheryl Underwood—triggered a network investigation. This internal review ultimately found that her behavior violated the network's standards for a respectful workplace, a finding compounded by the surfacing of historical allegations of racist and homophobic language against former colleagues. Her exit was a definitive termination of her relationship with CBS, resulting from a confluence of a disastrous live segment and a toxic workplace environment.