Sharon Osbourne: 'I will not take being called a racist'

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief | 13h

Sharon Osbourne speaks out for the first time since her high-profile departure from The Talk.

Sharon Osbourne has given her first interview since her high-profile exit from US chatshow The Talk.

In a March 10 episode of the show, Osbourne came under fire from co-host Sheryl Underwood for defending her friend Piers Morgan against allegations of racism.

Morgan was in the headlines at the time for his fierce criticism of Meghan Markle, saying that he did not "believe" the claims she had made about the Royal Family in a TV interview with Oprah Winfrey.

The discussion on The Talk centred around whether Morgan's disbelief of the Duchess of Sussex was rooted in racism, something Osbourne took exception to as a heated argument erupted.

Osbourne, who has since left the show, appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher to discuss the incident.

"I've been called so many things in my life, I am so used to being called names, but a racist is one I will not take," she said.

"I'm going to be just fine, I'm fine. As I said I'm a fighter, I'm fine."

She added: "It's not fair, because it isn't about being a racist. It's about maybe about not knowing what is correct and woke for your language that day, because it changes from day to day."

Morgan, meanwhile, has blasted Underwood for her treatment of Osbourne on the show and has demanded an apology for being labelled a racist.