The Talk’s Sharon Osbourne says she was ‘blindsided’ by Piers Morgan discussion: ‘I felt I was in front of a firing squad’

Variety

“I blame the network for it,” Osbourne told Variety of Wednesday's emotional The Talk episode, in which she was confronted over her defense of Piers Morgan over his Meghan Markle-fueled exit from Good Morning Britain. “I was blindsided, totally blindsided by the whole situation. In my 11 years, this was the first time I was not involved with the planning of the segment.” Osbourne said she learned her fellow co-hosts would be discussing Morgan eight minutes before Wednesday's episode began. “I said, ‘Sure, they can ask me whatever.’ But then I get on there, I say my piece and Sheryl (Underwood) turns around straight-faced, looks at me and is reading from a card with questions," said Osbourne. "I was just so hurt, caught off guard and stunned by what I was being asked and not prepared. I was honestly in shock. I felt like I was in front of a firing squad. I felt like a lamb held out for slaughter. … They had me there for 20 minutes.” When they went to break, Osbourne said she “begged them to stop, to please change subjects.” Osbourne added: "I’m a big girl. I’m a professional. However CBS blindsided me. I don’t know why they did it to me. The showrunners told me it came from executives to do this to me.” A CBS rep declined to comment when contacted by Variety. ALSO: Osbourne said she never called Holly Robinson Peete "too ghetto," and tweeted a 2011 letter from Peete thanking her.

• UPDATE: CBS cancels The Talk's Monday and Tuesday live shows as it probes heated debate involving Sharon Osbourne