CBS slammed for continuing to promote The Talk using clip of Sharon Osbourne DEFENDING Meghan Markle


CBS are still promoting The Talk using a clip of Sharon Osbourne defending Meghan Markle against the ‘racist’ royal family – after firing the TV host when she stuck up for Piers Morgan in a racism row the next day.

The network has been accused of ‘hypocrisy’ over the incident by industry insiders – and a source close to Osbourne claims CBS is ‘exploiting the controversy for ratings’.

The row began when Piers Morgan stormed out of UK chat show This Morning on March 9 after saying he didn’t believe Meghan’s account of alleged bullying and racist treatment by the royal family in a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.

The next day Osbourne, 69, took a stand on The Talk, saying although she disagreed with Piers, she supported his right to make the controversial comments on TV.

‘I supported my friend with his freedom of speech and his opinions of what he felt about the interview of Meghan and Harry,’ she said.

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Sharon Osbourne lambasted the royal family and the Queen, describing their alleged treatment of Meghan Markle as 'absolute racism at its height' on an episode of The Talk (pictured) that aired two days before her on-air racism row

Sharon Osbourne lambasted the royal family and the Queen, describing their alleged treatment of Meghan Markle as ‘absolute racism at its height’ on an episode of The Talk (pictured) that aired two days before her on-air racism row

The four-minute clip remains on The Talk's YouTube page, with advertisements attached, despite CBS firing Osbourne after she defended Piers Morgan's criticism Markle

The four-minute clip remains on The Talk’s YouTube page, with advertisements attached, despite CBS firing Osbourne after she defended Piers Morgan’s criticism Markle

‘Did I like everything he said, did I agree with what he said? No. Because it’s his opinion, it’s not my opinion.’

In the following days anonymous allegations were posted by a blogger accusing Osbourne of calling her Chinese-American co-host Julie Chen ‘Wonton’ and ‘Slanty Eyes’ – claims Osbourne denied vociferously.

Two weeks later, CBS fired her from the show.

But despite giving Osbourne the chop, the channel is still using clips of her to promote the show.

In a four-minute section from the show which aired on March 8, the day before Piers’ controversial comments, Osbourne lambasted the royal family and the Queen, describing their alleged poor treatment of Meghan Markle as ‘absolute racism at its height’.

She also called out Prince Andrew for not having his military medals stripped over allegations of child sex offences through his friendship with infamous late billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. 

In a March 10 episode of The Talk (above) Osbourne defended Morgan in an on-air debate with co-host Sheryl Underwood, who suggested he was racist for saying he didn't believe Markle's account of alleged bullying and racist treatment by the royal family

In a March 10 episode of The Talk (above) Osbourne defended Morgan in an on-air debate with co-host Sheryl Underwood, who suggested he was racist for saying he didn’t believe Markle’s account of alleged bullying and racist treatment by the royal family 

CBS said Osbourne's March 10 on-air bust-up 'did not align with our values for a respectful workplace', however, the episode remains available to view online  with advertisements attached

CBS said Osbourne’s March 10 on-air bust-up ‘did not align with our values for a respectful workplace’, however, the episode remains available to view online  with advertisements attached

Underwood and Osbourne are pictured at the 41st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in 2014

Sharon Osbourne and Piers Morgan

Underwood and Osbourne are pictured right at the 41st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in 2014. Osbourne took a stand on The Talk, saying although she disagreed with Piers, she supported his right to make the controversial comments on TV

The clip was posted on The Talk’s official YouTube channel to promote the chat show, garnering more than 222,000 views. 

And though CBS said Osbourne’s March 10 on-air bust-up ‘did not align with our values for a respectful workplace’, the episode remains available to view online – with advertisements attached.

A source close to Osbourne told DailyMail.com the continued promotion was ‘par for the course with CBS, exploiting the controversy for ratings while not understanding how to handle it from a content perspective.’

A Los Angeles TV insider who works as a consultant to CBS says Sharon is unhappy about what are ‘essentially double standards’.

‘Clearly something is off here,’ the source said. ‘One minute CBS says that Sharon’s comments do not align with their values, but then they keep the whole show up online in its entirety to gain views.

‘And those shows have advertising segments built around them too, so they are earning money from these views.

Osbourne (far right) and Underwood (second from left) got into a heated exchange over Osbourne's support for her friend Piers Morgan (third from left), who has come under fire for comments he made about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. Morgan posted this photo in February 2020 of the show's former panel from last year. From left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Underwood, Morgan, Marie Osmond, and Osbourne

Osbourne (far right) and Underwood (second from left) got into a heated exchange over Osbourne’s support for her friend Piers Morgan (third from left), who has come under fire for comments he made about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. Morgan posted this photo in February 2020 of the show’s former panel from last year. From left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Underwood, Morgan, Marie Osmond, and Osbourne

‘The commercial arm of CBS does not appear to align to the moral stance it is taking publicly given its statement about Sharon. It is clear why she would feel wronged here.’

The source added: ‘Interestingly the fact that a day before on the show Sharon vehemently defended Meghan and heavily criticized the Royals for their racism, is being used to commercial value too.

‘Leaving that clip up there seems like a kick in the teeth. CBS overlooked her measured support for Meghan in the past.’

In her March 8 criticism of the Queen, Osbourne said the royal family had been ‘deplorable’.

‘How can you be head of an empire, and when somebody of color comes into the Royal family they’re not put on a wage, you’re not a member of the Royal family, your child is not going to be a prince, because he might have a different colored skin?’ she said.

‘Now that is deplorable – that is absolute racism at its height.’ 

DailyMail.com has contacted CBS for comment.  

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