Sharon Osborne Says No One Will Hire Her in America After ‘The Talk’ Firing
Sharon Osbourne Steven Ferdman/Getty Images
Sharon Osbourne revealed on a recent episode of ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother in the UK that she is struggling to find work in America. The 71-year-old mentioned that she feels like she has been "banned in America" following her departure from The Talk in 2021 over allegations of racist behavior behind the scenes.
"I got banned in America," Osbourne shared with her Celebrity Big Brother housemates Lauren Simon and Louis Walsh. She expressed that she felt unjustly treated and claimed she had done nothing wrong.
When Simon asked if Osbourne could still find work in the US, Osbourne explained that although she is legally allowed to work there, she faces challenges as she is labeled as racist by potential employers.
Simon pointed out that Osbourne is Jewish, and Osbourne agreed, affirming that she had addressed this with those who accused her. She emphasized that she understands the pain of discrimination and would never treat someone unfairly based on their race or religion.
In March 2021, Sharon Osbourne stood up for her friend Piers Morgan after he made controversial remarks about Meghan Markle's CBS interview. During the interview, Markle opened up about facing racism and struggling with suicidal thoughts. Morgan's comments, where he doubted the truth of Markle's words, received a lot of criticism from the public.
On The Talk, Osbourne shared her thoughts, saying, "I may not agree with everything Piers said, but that's his opinion, not mine. I believe in his right to express himself, and he's my friend."
Sharon Osborne Says No One Will Hire Her in America After ‘The Talk’ Firing
Sheryl Underwood, Eve, Sara Gilbert, Carrie Ann Inaba and Sharon Osbourne of ‘The Talk.’ Noel Vasquez/Getty Images
Sheryl Underwood, who co-hosts with Osbourne, expressed her concern that by supporting her friend, Osbourne may be inadvertently condoning racist remarks made by him.
In response, Osbourne defended herself by saying, "I feel like I'm being judged unfairly because of my friendship with someone who is accused of being racist."
Following these comments, Osbourne faced additional accusations of engaging in racist and homophobic behavior off-camera while on The Talk. Despite her denial of these claims, she was ultimately let go from the show.
In a statement released by CBS, it was acknowledged that the events of the March 10 broadcast had caused distress to all parties involved, including the viewers. After conducting a thorough review, it was determined that Sharon's conduct towards her co-hosts during the March 10 episode did not meet the standards for a respectful work environment.
In April 2022, Osbourne revealed that her career took a hit following the Talk controversy. She had been part of the daytime talk show since 2010.
During an interview with The Sunday Times, Osbourne shared that she was told she was on permanent suspension. The network believed she wasn't showing enough remorse and said they would determine if she could return. When she asked who would make that decision, they replied, "We can't tell you."
Osbourne also mentioned that the backlash did not impact her career in the U.K., but she noticed a sudden lack of opportunities in the U.S.
She explained, "My phone stopped ringing for TV opportunities in America. It was like I didn't exist here. But in England and Australia, everything remained the same."
Editor's P/S:
The article sheds light on the challenges faced by Sharon Osbourne in the aftermath of her departure from "The Talk" in 2021