Media personality Sharon Osbourne reportedly referred to her former co-host Julie Chen as “wonton” and “slanty eyes.”
Osbourne was also accused of referring to former co-host Sara Gilbert, who identifies as a lesbian, as “p*ssy licker” and “fish eater,” multiple sources told journalist Yashar Ali. One source included a former host of “The Talk,” Leah Remini.
Ali claimed to have spoken to 11 sources off the record in 2018 and in the past few days. The sources wanted to remain anonymous because they feared “career retribution, signed a nondisclosure or non-disparagement agreement, or aren’t authorized to speak to the press by their current employers.”
1. Exclusive: Sharon Osbourne, co-host of the CBS daytime panel show “The Talk,” would frequently refer to then-co-host Julie Chen, who is Chinese American, as “wonton” and “slanty eyes,” according to multiple sources. https://t.co/6A4DrRnSVx
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) March 16, 2021
Osbourne has also been accused of calling former co-host Holly Robinson Peete “too ghetto.” Her publicist Howard Bragman called the allegations “lies” in a lengthy statement.
“The only thing worse than a disgruntled former employee is a disgruntled former talk show host,” a statement from Osbourne’s publicist said, according to Ali. “For 11 years Sharon has been kind, collegial and friendly with her hosts as evidenced by throwing them parties, inviting them to her home in the UK and other gestures of kindness too many to name.”
“Sharon is disappointed but unfazed and hardly surprised by the lies, the recasting of history and the bitterness coming out at this moment,” the statement continued. “She will survive this, as she always has and her heart will remain open and good, because she refuses to let others take her down. She thanks her family, friends and fans for standing by her and knowing her true nature.”
“The Talk” has been put on hiatus following a debate about Piers Morgan’s comments regarding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey. Morgan claimed on “Good Morning Britain” he didn’t believe any of what Markle shared during the interview. (RELATED: Trump Jr. Slams CBS For Pulling ‘The Talk’ After Backlash Involving Piers Morgan)
During Wednesday’s episode of “The Talk,” Osbourne defended Morgan on air after co-host Sheryl Underwood questioned why Osbourne would give her support to someone who was “racist in his stance against Meghan Markle.”
“Tell me: What has he uttered that’s racist?” Osbourne replied. “I feel like I’m about to be put in the electric chair because I have a friend who many people think is a racist, so that makes me a racist … How can I be racist about anybody? How can I be racist about anybody or anything in my life? How can I?”
Osbourne has since apologized in a statement shared on Twitter.