The target date for the return of The Talk is moving at least another week away amid CBS’s ongoing investigation of alleged racist behavior by host Sharon Osbourne.
The CBS talk show initially went on a two-day hiatus amid the scandal last Sunday, which was later extended to last the entirety of the week.
Osbourne has denied the allegations of racist behavior, though she has said she thinks she’ll lose the job.
The allegations came after she defended her friend Piers Morgan, who came under fire after questioning the veracity of Meghan Markle‘s claims in her Oprah interview.
The Talk is not coming back yet, with its hiatus set to go for another week amid a CBS probe
Sharon Osbourne (right) pictured with Julie Chen, her former co-host back in 2015
During an episode of The Talk that aired a week and a half ago, Osbourne came to the defense of friend Morgan in regard to his criticism of Markle, which led her to saying: ‘I very much feel like I’m about to be put in the electric chair because I have a friend, who many people think is a racist, so that makes me a racist?’
That led to a dust-up with co-host Sheryl Underwood, who was taken aback by the fierceness of Osbourne’s defense.
Since that moment, a number of allegations about Osbourne’s behavior have clouded her future with the show.
One of the accusations being investigated by CBS is whether or not Osbourne called former co-host Julie Chen a ‘wonton,’ an allegation that Osbourne says is ‘crap.’
‘Everyone’s got an opinion or a story like the wonton story,’ Osbourne said to DailyMail.com earlier this week. ‘It’s like f**k off with your f**king wonton story. F**k off!’
The Talk was set to return to airwaves on March 22, presumably with all of the regular hosts in their places.
PEOPLE reports, however, that the show will remain on hiatus through the coming week.
Now the show is now set to return on March 29, although that is uncertain after the second extension of the hiatus.
Osbourne further defended herself last week, telling DailyMail.com: ‘Of course, it’s a pile on. People want to add fuel to the fire and it comes with the territory and that’s fine.’
Osbourne believes the allegations against her will result in the end of her time with The Talk
Piers Morgan, a friend of Osbourne, was part of the firestorm that enveloped the host last week
Osbourne defended Morgan’s comments on Meghan Markle, much to her co-host’s chagrin
A report from Yashar Ali also alleged that Osbourne called former co-host Sara Gilbert a ‘fish eater,’ among other things; Gilbert is a lesbian.
Osbourne has also been accused of calling former co-hosts Leah Remini and Holly Robinson Peete ‘ghetto.’
‘In situations like this, you’re always going to get people who you’ve had disagreements with in the past, people who’ve got axes to grind, who come out of the woodwork and they’ll come out with their BS and that’s it. It doesn’t surprise me at all. It doesn’t surprise me,’ Osbourne said.
‘Being accused of racism is no joke. Now they get their sweet revenge. I can’t even address it because it’s kids in a schoolyard.’
Osbourne believes she will likely lose her job at The Talk following the investigation into her.
‘I kind of think they’re going use me as a sacrificial lamb and fire me. It’s fine. It’s fine. It hasn’t happened yet but I’m sure it will.’
‘I don’t know what they’ll do. It’s a big, ugly mess. But I didn’t start it. I didn’t start it. It’s down to the producers of the show.’
Earlier this week, reps for The Talk released a statement regarding the show.
‘CBS is committed to a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace across all of our productions. We’re also very mindful of the important concerns expressed and discussions taking place regarding events on The Talk. This includes a process where all voices are heard, claims are investigated and appropriate action is taken where necessary.’
