The View rival series The Talk — and a major feud among former cohosts Sharon Osbourne and Sheryl Underwood — took center stage on Tuesday morning’s broadcast of the long-running ABC program.
Amid Underwood’s week-long guest-cohosting gig on The View, the former Talk panelist addressed her five-year-old feud with Osbourne that stemmed from a 2021 on-air clash over racism and the British Royal Family.
The View staple Sunny Hostin brought up the incident during a Hot Topics discussion about celebrity feuds and reconciling with colleagues — which, perhaps coincidentally, aired the same day that actress Mo’Nique released to social media an open letter addressed to View moderator Whoopi Goldberg over their on-air clash in 2018.
Hostin described the clash between Underwood and Osbourne as a “pretty big spat” and a “feud over race,” to which Underwood replied, “I don’t like to beef with my coworkers,” and that she “was sitting in the middle of it looking around like, what the hell?”
Whoopi Goldberg, Sara Haines, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sheryl Underwood on ‘The View’
Credit: ABC
“It started because Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did an Oprah Winfrey interview, and the Duchess said [she] experienced racism at the hands of the Royal Family. And Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne’s friend, really went into it defending the Royal Family and saying that was not racism,” Hostin summarized. “I think, at that point, Sharon Osbourne got involved and defended Piers Morgan and said there wasn’t racism.”
Underwood said she’ll go into more detail about the moment — which also led to Osbourne leaving The Talk in 2021, after she said she was “blindsided” by her cohost’s reaction — in her upcoming book, but remembered advising to Osbourne on The Talk, “Y’all have got to get off Meghan Markle.”
“We can’t let you drag her, especially if she’s [addressing] not just racism, but her mental health,” Underwood continued. “I still believe there’s some love between me and Sharon Osbourne. I tried to reach out when Ozzy passed. I love her, but sometimes…. you hope it doesn’t get as big.”
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The pair’s clash prompted a temporary pause on The Talk’s broadcasts, before the show was ultimately canceled three years later in 2024.
“People say, ‘Sheryl, when it happened, why didn’t you reach out?’ I’m afraid to leave a voicemail. Because in the business we’re in, that voicemail will show up somewhere or be misunderstood, so I’d rather be quiet than to continue to hurt people because I’m going to have to face God one day,” observed Underwood, while Hostin asked if she’d accept a meeting with Osbourne after the latter said in 2024 that she regretted apologizing to Underwood over the on-air spat.
“I sat next to her for years, and I do believe that when she’s hurt, she’s really hurt,” Underwood said. “I believe that what really happened to me, I’d gotten into a couple of problem discussions on The Talk. Y’all know. Amen, right? God let me live to correct some of the things that I said.”
The cast of ‘The Talk,’ including Sharon Osbourne and Sheryl Underwood
Credit: Randee St. Nicholas/CBS
Without missing a beat, longtime View personality Joy Behar quipped, “And God canceled that show,” as the audience erupted with laughter.
“And that is why I’m on the ‘I Need a Job’ tour, because I need a job,” Underwood said, referencing her ongoing comedy tour. “But Joy, you’ve had your situation with people!”
“How dare you,” Behar replied with a laugh, as Underwood joked back: “Listen, you talked about a show I was on that got canceled, baby, I’ve got to give you something back!”
Behar clapped back, “Yeah, but I’m still here!” as Underwood responded, “But, I’m a guest, and I’m trying to come back!”
Sunny Hostin and Sheryl Underwood on ‘The View’
Credit: ABC
Goldberg ended the discussion by advising people on how to handle interpersonal conflicts — including those that play out publicly.
“You do what you can, you try not to fight when people come for you on social media,” Goldberg said, hours after Mo’Nique shared her open letter — which Goldberg did not reference — addressed to the Ghost actress. “Make a phone call. You’ve got something to say? Make a phone call. If you want to talk to Sharon, call her. It doesn’t matter whether she takes it or not. You’ve made the effort. That’s what’s important.”
Entertainment Weekly has reached out to representatives for Osbourne for comment.
The View airs weekdays on ABC.
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly