'The Talk' Host Sheryl Underwood Has 'Unspoken Tension' With Natalie Morales For Taking Over Coveted Role As Moderator
Sheryl Underwood is reportedly bitter about the show’s new moderator Natalie Morales.
The famed news anchor just recently joined The Talk and while things seem to be peachy between the cohosts, sources have revealed that Underwood, 57, is less than pleased with the show’s newest addition.
A source told The Sun, “Sheryl and Natalie seemingly get along fine, but there is some unspoken tension,” which might be due in part to the fact that Morales was given the role as moderator.
“Since the moderator position has been taken away from Sheryl and given to Natalie, Sheryl can’t help interjecting herself and stepping on Natalie’s role and cueing the other hosts,” the source explained. “[Sheryl] asks, ‘what about you? Have anything to add?”
The source continued, “Natalie won’t say anything, but you can tell it’s annoying and borderline disrespectful.”
Morales, 49, is new to the position this month, where she works on the daytime show alongside cohosts Underwood, Amanda Kloots, Jerry O’Connell, and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila.
Underwood sits in the middle, although the source added that it would “make more sense for Natalie to have the center seat since she is now the centerpiece of the show.” However, “no one wants to have that conversation with Sheryl.”
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The outlet also reported that the show’s ratings have improved every week since Morales joined, despite the veteran hosts’ feelings toward the newbie.
“Natalie is the reason the overall audience is slowly growing,” the source continued. “When you’re at rock bottom going up feels so good. Natalie and the new hosts have new stories and new perspectives.”
The source concluded, “So many people have said it doesn’t feel like ‘The Talk,’ it feels like a new show and Sheryl is the only throwback tied to the old show.”
The update on the relationship between Morales and Underwood is no surprise considering that the OG cohost felt “blindsided” by the network’s choice to hire the new host.
As OK! previously reported, Underwood “felt she should have been consulted and kept in the loop out of respect for her seniority with the show.”
“There is so much hoopla surrounding Natalie and so much publicity and airtime devoted to her joining the show,” the source said at the time, insisting that Underwood is getting frustrated with the attention her cohosts are getting.
“Amanda has Dancing with the Stars and is getting lots of attention so that makes Sheryl feel like she's not getting the eyeballs that she wants,” the source dished. “Sheryl feels she isn't getting credit for being the glue that holds the show together.”
