Has Sharon Osbourne Hit Her Breaking Point? Embattled Former Host Seen Looking Disheveled After Jerry O’Connell Replacement News
Rough day? Sharon Osbourne looked like she's been through the wringer after it was confirmed that Jerry O'Connell would be replacing her on The Talk following her scandalous exit months prior.
The embattled host was seen driving around Los Angeles make-up free with her hair in a mess on Wednesday afternoon, July 14 —which also happened to be when an audio leaked of former cohost Elaine Welteroth consoling Osbourne following her on-air heated debate with Sheryl Underwood during the controversial March 10 episode.
It looks like the recent news has taken a toll on Osbourne, as she looked far from pleased when spotted out and about. Click here to see photos of the troubled celeb.
Meanwhile, the 68-year-old hasn’t commented on the O'Connell news nor the leaked tape, which appeared to show Welteroth telling Osbourne that she knew she was "not racist" and agreeing that CBS producers set Osbourne up.
OK! previously reported that the beginning of the end of Osbourne's time on the show stemmed from her defending Piers Morgan's freedom of speech after he questioned claims made by Meghan Markle during her and Prince Harry's interview with Oprah Winfrey.
During the now-infamous, explosive The Talk episode, Underwood questioned how Osbourne could defend someone who "uttered" something "racist." Osbourne immediately became defensive, tearfully saying she felt she was being placed in "the electric chair" for being Morgan's friend, asking her cohost to show her what the former Good Morning Britain host said that was racist.
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CBS immediately launched an internal investigation into the controversial episode — with the show being put on hiatus — after Welteroth complained of "a racially insensitive and hostile environment" at the show.
Meanwhile, Welteroth appeared to have a completely different stance on the situation behind closed doors, as she apparently sided with Osbourne from the start, according to the new leaked audio.
In the audio— which was reportedly captured on Welteroth's microphone when she went to visit Osbourne in her dressing room after the chaotic cohost quarrel — the 34-year-old revealed that the producers wanted her to initiate the Morgan discussion, which she refused to do, according to the tape.
OK! reported that Welteroth then told the distressed TV personality that the show runners instructed Underwood to ask the loaded question. She even reassured Osbourne that no one thinks she's racist, saying: "[Sheryl] doesn't think you're racist. I don't think you're racist. No one who knows you would ever say that or think that."
Osbourne ended up quitting the show later that month and walked away with a $10 million paycheck.
Meanwhile, O’Connell — the first male The Talk co-host in the series' history — shared his excitement over his new full-time position during the Wednesday, July 14, episode. "You ladies have been so welcoming to me," he told panelists Welteroth, Underwood and Amanda Kloots. (Carrie Ann Inaba has taken a leave of absence from the series.)
"I mean, I came here as a guest months ago, and just from the moment I walked in, you’re just gracious, you’re kind, you’re fun, and it worked," he said, gushing over Osbourne's former cohosts.
