During her run on The Talk, Sharon Osbourne had a controversial reputation. She was linked to several exits on the show, including Marie Osmond and Leah Remini.
In the following, we're going to take a closer look at Remini's troubled relationship with Osbourne. The two had issues behind the scenes, and Leah believes Sharon was the major reason for her departure from the show. Ultimately, Remini was happy with her release looking back, especially given the interview structure on the show.
We'll reveal Remini's uneasiness on the show, and how Sharon Osbroune reacted to all the allegations.
Leah Remini Claims Sharon Osbourne Was The Main Reason As To Why She Was Fired From The Talk
Leah Remini lasted one season on The Talk, and she believes it was due to Sharon Osbourne's opinion alongside the higher ups on CBS.
Remini revealed, "Sharon thought me and Holly were 'ghetto'... we were not funny, awkward and didn't know ourselves."
Remini would take things a step further in 2021, agreeing with a statement that Osbourne bullied others behind the scenes on The Talk.
"[I was] easily manipulated into a web of high school vitriol, hatred and bullying," Remini claims in the article, alleging that Osbourne would refer to her "as a WOP and Guinea," which are racial slurs used against Italians. "Not only did I do nothing about the racism and bullying I was receiving and witnessing, I was party to it. I had to own up to my own ugly."
Leah would go on to say that a blog speaking about Sharon's racism during The Talk was accurate, but she failed to make further claims about it.
As we'll reveal later, Osbourne had her own story of what had taken place. Ultimately, Remini admits it was the right decision to fire her off the show, especially given the structure of the interviews behind the scenes.
Leah Remini Understands Why She Was Fired From The Talk Looking Back
Looking back at her time on The Talk, Remini understands she was not a fit for the show. Speaking alongside Howard Stern, Remini spoke about some of the struggles that went on behind the scenes.
"I want to hear the real s**t." However, Remini was told to stick to certain topics because of the requests from the star's publicists, "If I wanted to be in this kind of show, I need to shut my mouth and do what my bosses tell me to do... I can't do that."
It seems like Remini was a much better fit for her own podcast, or something that she had more creative control for. Ultimately, Remini called her departure from the show a blessing given that way things played out in her personal life once she parted ways.
"Although being fired was devastating at that time, in part because someone we considered a friend turned on us for a show we helped to create, I am grateful for the time away to do the work I needed to do," she revealed.
"Coming from Scientology, where racism, bullying and bigotry is taught, I had to unlearn a lot. I'm still learning and hopefully evolving. I can't say that Sharon has focused on the work she needs to do."
Sharon Osbourne Reacted To Leah Remini's Claims And Completely Denied Any Involvement
Sharon Osbourne reacted to the allegations, and she didn't take kindly to Remini's words. Sharon called the claims completely false, and told Remini to move on.
"I had absolutely nothing to do with her departure from the show and have no idea why she continues to take to Twitter to spread this false gossip," she wrote. "Leah knows that I have never been in the position to hire or fire anyone on the show."
Sharon continues, "My only wish is that Leah would just stop all this negative, unprofessional, and childish behavior. It's been seven months. It's time to move on. Leah is a very talented actress and I only wish her happiness and success. I know that better things are to come if she can just get beyond all this negativity."
Osbourne's team would also speak out on her behalf when the rumors of Sharon's racism on the show started to surface.
The statement writes, "The only thing worse than a disgruntled former employee is a disgruntled former talk show host. 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 U.K. 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. 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."
CBS would also issue a statement at the time, mentioning that they were committed to promoting diversity on all their programming, and would take the proper action. Osbourne was eventually let go by the show, calling her release, "unfair."