Leah Remini: Sharon Osbourne called her ‘Talk’ co-host offensive insults

Actor Leah Remini and others accuse Sharon Osbourne of making racist and homophobic comments about her co-host in the past on ‘The Talk’.

Journalist Yashar Ali reported on Tuesday that Osbourne has a long record of insulting the race and sexual orientation of former “Talk” fellows such as Julie Chen and Sara Gilbert.

Ali said several sources, including former co-host Remini, said Osbourne referred to Chen, who is Chinese-American, as “Wonton” and “slanted eyes,” and to Gilbert, who is a lesbian, as ‘poetic’ and ‘fish-eater’.

Osbourne’s publicist Howard Bragman denied the allegations to Ali in the following statement:

The only thing worse than a dissatisfied former employee is a dissatisfied former talk show host.

For 11 years, Sharon has been friendly, collegial and friendly with her hosts, who have apparently been held by parties, invited to her home in the UK and other gestures of kindness that are too many to mention.

Sharon is disappointed, but unabashedly and hardly surprised at the lies, the reconstitution of history and the bitterness that appears at this moment.

She will survive it, as always, and her heart will remain open and good, for she refuses to let others bring her down. She thanks her family, friends and fans for standing by her and knowing her true nature.

Osbourne came under fire this week after defending TV personality Piers Morgan in her program for comments he made about Meghan Markle.

Things got heated after co-presenter Sheryl Underwood, who is Black, explained how Morgan’s remarks about rejecting the Duchess of Sussex’s version of her mental health fight on racism.

Osbourne later apologized to “anyone of color” for offending, adding that “there are very few things that hurt my heart, more than racism, so I quickly relate to it!”

CBS announced on Monday that ‘The Talk’ will take a short while so the exchange between Underwood and Osbourne can be investigated.

However, since that original exchange, former co-host Holly Robinson has also accused Peete of it. Osbourne said she was “too ghetto” for the show.

Osbourne denied Variety the allegations, saying: ‘It’s not in my vocabulary. I’m not talking like that. The only ghetto I know of is the Warsaw ghetto, and I think that’s the only time I’ve ever referred to such a thing. ‘

Ali noted that an episode of ‘The Talk’ from January 2011 shows Osbourne using the word ‘ghetto’ to refer to Remini’s Brooklyn accent.

CBS did not comment to Ali on the allegations against Osbourne, but the network released a statement to Variety about the interruption:

CBS is committed to a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace in all of our productions. We are also very aware of the important concerns that are being expressed and discussions that are taking place about events on ‘The Talk’. This includes a process where all voices are heard, demands are investigated and appropriate steps are taken where necessary. The show will extend its production breaks until next Tuesday as we continue to review these issues.