- Sharon Osbourne said she had never heard Piers Morgan say anything racist.
- Sheryl Underwood, her cohost on "The Talk," said she saw Morgan's stance on Meghan Markle as racist.
- Osbourne became visibly emotional as the debate went on.
Sharon Osbourne broke down in tears while defending her friend Piers Morgan in a tense argument with her cohost Sheryl Underwood on CBS' "The Talk."
Osbourne had received criticism for defending Morgan on Twitter after he stormed off of the set of "Good Morning Britain" and later quit the show reportedly after refusing to apologize for his comments about Meghan Markle.
—Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) March 9, 2021
Morgan has been an outspoken critic of Markle's following her and Prince Harry's interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Osbourne tweeted that she stood with Morgan after he left the morning show, and Underwood asked her to expand on that position on "The Talk." Underwood explained that many saw Osbourne's defense of Morgan as giving "validation and a safe haven to something that he has uttered that is racist."
Osbourne replied: "I don't know what he's uttered that's racist. I'm not trying to slide out of this one. Tell me, what has he uttered that's racist?"
She continued: "I feel like I'm about to be put in the electric chair because I have a friend who many people think is racist, so that makes me a racist.
"For me at 68 years of age to have to turn around and say, 'I ain't racist,' what's it got to do with me? How can I be racist about anybody … or anything in my life? How can I?"
Underwood tried to defuse the situation, but Osbourne was heard shouting censored expletives as the show went to a commercial break.
When the show returned, Osbourne was visibly upset and wiping her eyes with a tissue.
Osbourne continued: "I will ask you again, Sheryl. I've been asking you during the break. And don't try and cry because if anyone should be crying, it should be me. This is the situation: You tell me where you have heard him say racist things. Educate me."
Underwood said that while Morgan may not have said anything explicitly racist, it was "the implication and the reaction" to the interview with Winfrey that upset many.
"I have felt that Piers was racist in his stance against Meghan Markle, and the last time he was on this show I said as much," Underwood said.
Underwood also reassured Osbourne that she wasn't accusing her of being racist, to which Osbourne replied: "It's too late. I think that seed's already sowed."
Some viewers of the show were left frustrated and angered by Osbourne's attitude.
One person shared a clip of the discussion saying: "Karen Osbourne begging to be canceled live on 'The Talk' right now." The term "Karen" is used as a moniker for any white woman who's thought to be acting inappropriately, rudely, or in an entitled manner.
Another wrote: "This is Sharon Osbourne, telling a black woman not to cry and demanding a definition of racism, as she sobs over Piers Morgan who walked off his job bc a mixed black coworker calmly challenged his fixation on Meghan Markle."
The person continued: "White women are something else. Your tears are weapons."
—Rae Sanni (@raesanni) March 10, 2021
Another person wrote: "Sharon Osbourne is a perfect example of why it is futile to go out of your way to NOT call someone racist. You can't reason with or educate them. Just say it with yo chest, let them sit with that and go on about your business."
—BlackWomenViews Media (@blackwomenviews) March 10, 2021
Another commended Underwood and Elaine Welteroth's handling of the situation: "Kudos to Elaine and Sheryl for trying to lower the temperature. They should be the ones who are angry at the way Sharon Osbourne is speaking to them."
—Unique Monique (@mmillipied) March 10, 2021
Meanwhile, Morgan has since responded to Osbourne's tweet defending him, writing: "I love Sharon Osbourne because she always stays true to herself. She knew she would get abused by the woke brigade for tweeting this — but did it anyway because it what she believes."
—Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) March 10, 2021
