Update (March 12, 2021):  Sharon Osbourne released a public apology Friday morning after facing backlash for her fervent defense of Piers Morgan who attacked Meghan Markle’s account of experiencing extreme mental anguish as a member of the royal family.

This week on The Talk, Osbourne, 68, defended Morgan and was critical of Black co-host Sheryl Underwood, who she said tried to imply she was racist for siding with the British TV host. Osbourne talked down to and was aggressive toward Underwood who remained poised and collected as she attempted to reason with her co-host about the impact of racism.

Following public outcry, the 68-year-old issued a statement on Twitter, apologizing for “panicking” and “being defensive” during the exchange on The Talk. 

“After some reflection, after sitting with your comments & sitting with my heart I would like to address the discussion on The Talk this past Wednesday. I have always been embraced with so much love & support from the black community & I have deep respect & love for the black community,” she wrote.

pic.twitter.com/1h7pV8gC4u

— Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) March 12, 2021

Osbourne’s obtuse apology was directed toward the Black community but paid no interest in setting things right with Underwood who was not mentioned once by name in the statement. Osbourne’s representatives have not revealed if she has reached out to Underwood personally. 

Prior to appearing on The Talk to discuss the Morgan fallout, Osbourne defended the Good Morning Britain host on Twitter, sympathizing with the British journalist, saying, “I am with you. I stand by you”.

. @piersmorgan I am with you. I stand by you. People forget that you’re paid for your opinion and that you’re just speaking your truth.

— Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) March 9, 2021

She would later elaborate on her stance and insist that she does not “condone racism, misogyny or bullying,” according to CNN.

After Osborne issued her apology, former The Talk host Holly Robinson Peete shared that she was discriminated against on the show after Osbourne complained that she was too “ghetto.” Peete also offered her support to Underwood, who she said was class and grace personified during the exchange. 

I’m old enough to remember when Sharon complained that I was too “ghetto” for #theTalk…then I was gone💨
I bring this up now bc I was mortified watching the disrespectful condescending tone she took w/her co host who remained calm & respectful because…she HAD to🤦🏽‍♀️ 🤷🏽‍♀️#fbf
https://t.co/7pnCnhM5rf
pic.twitter.com/CXR4DzvlEZ

— Holly Robinson Peete😷🥰 (@hollyrpeete) March 12, 2021

“I bring this up now bc I was mortified watching the disrespectful condescending tone she took w/her co host who remained calm & respectful because…she HAD to,” Peete wrote. 

Original (March 11, 2021): Sharon Osbourne is the latest celebrity to catch heat from the fallout of the widely-watched interview between Oprah Winfrey, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. 

Piers Morgan, a well-known conservative talk show host in the U.K., quit his job after some of his co-workers criticized him for his outlandish hatred of Markle, which he used the show to propagate on a regular basis. 

Osbourne, known as a reality TV star and wife of famed rock musician Ozzy Osbourne, is close friends with Morgan and has come to his defense after many people online accused him of racism due to his comments about Markle.

“@piersmorgan I am with you. I stand by you. People forget that you’re paid for your opinion and that you’re just speaking your truth,” she wrote on Twitter, later appearing on multiple news outlets to defend Morgan.

. @piersmorgan I am with you. I stand by you. People forget that you’re paid for your opinion and that you’re just speaking your truth.

— Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) March 9, 2021

“I sent out a tweet saying I stand by Piers, I do because he has the right to his opinion — that’s what he gets paid for,” she told the BBC.

On The Talk, the hosts decided to discuss Morgan and Markle this week, during which Osbourne defended her friend and criticized her one of her Black co-hosts, Sheryl Underwood, for allegedly implying she was racist as well. 

“Did I like everything [Morgan] said? Did I agree with what he said? No, because it’s his opinion. It’s not my opinion. But why is it that because I supported a long-time friend and work colleague of mine for years that everybody goes, if you support him, then you must be racist because he’s racist?” Osbourne said. 

The incident sparked outrage online given the way she talked down to and yelled at Underwood. 

Osbourne repeatedly denied that Morgan ever said anything racist about Markle, but Underwood reminded her that racism is much larger than simply word choice. 

“There’s a difference between bigotry, prejudice and racism. To speak upon something and not accept what she is saying, what Meghan has been saying, it could be true, and the responses to that could be true and the fact that you don’t even want to take into consideration that her desire to want to end her own life is connected to her race. That dismissal makes it a racist situation,” Underwood said. 

Underwood repeatedly said that Osbourne was not racist and maintained a warm tone throughout, but that did not stop Osbourne from blowing up at her co-host. 

“I feel like I’m about to be put in an electric chair because I have a friend who many people think is a racist, so that makes me a racist,” the 68-year-old said. 

“Why can’t it be he just doesn’t like her? Why does it have to be racist?” Osbourne added.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xUviHcV8NA

“I will ask you again, Sheryl, I was asking you during the break and I’m asking you again. And don’t try and cry, because if anyone should be crying, it should be me. This is the situation, you tell me where you have heard him say – educate me. Tell me when you have heard him say racist things. Educate me. Tell me,” Osbourne said while yelling at Underwood. 

There was significant backlash online from many Black women who said it reminded them of dealing with bigoted work colleagues.