Sharon Osbourne shared texts showing her apologizing to Sheryl Underwood, who said they hadn't spoken

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Sharon Osbourne shared texts showing her apologizing to Sheryl Underwood, who said they hadn't spoken
Sharon Osbourne and Sheryl Underwood were involved in a heated exchange on "The Talk."Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty Images/Christopher Willard/Freeform via Getty Images
  • Sheryl Underwood said her former "Talk" cohost Sharon Osbourne had not reached out to her.
  • In response, Osbourne shared screenshots of text messages she says she sent Underwood.
  • The texts, dated March 12, 15, and 18, show Osbourne apologizing for their exchange on "The Talk."
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Sharon Osbourne has shared screenshots of text messages that she says she sent to Sheryl Underwood apologizing for their heated on-air discussion on "The Talk" that led to Osbourne's exit from the show.

Addressing Osbourne's exit for the first time, Underwood spoke about the drama on her podcast series with three early April episodes titled "Sharon Walks Away."

Underwood was asked whether Osbourne had reached out to her at all, to which Underwood replied categorically: "No." Underwood shared her phone history to attempt to authenticate that claim and said the two of them had not spoken since the last time they were on the set together.

Osbourne, however, has now come forward saying she did indeed reach out to her former colleague.

Osbourne showed the Daily Mail screenshots of texts she says were sent to Underwood. The first of them was dated March 12, just two days after the initial dramatic discussion took place on "The Talk," which began when Osbourne defended her friend Piers Morgan against accusations of racism following his reactions to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's interview with Oprah Winfrey.

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Osbourne's text, per the Daily Mail, said: "Sheryl, My heart is heavy and I'm deeply saddened by the events that transpired on Wednesday. I don't want to lose my true friend over this. Im sorry for telling you to f--- off during break, I'm sorry for accusing you of fake crying while we were live on air and I'm sorry for losing my temper with you."

Osbourne wrote she felt "shocked, scared and saddened" by the discussion that took place, adding that it felt like "a blind sided attack." Osbourne said she and Underwood had always had each other's backs.

She signed off the message by offering a phone conversation, writing "love and respect always - Sharon."

The text conversation in the screenshots was left for three days until March 15, when Osbourne sent a second text to Underwood.

It shows Osbourne messaging: "I know you're taking space and I don't want to disrespect that. I'm just reaching out because I want you [to] know I'm thinking about you. If you are willing, can we talk before Wednesday?"

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Again, the text appears to go unanswered. Another three days later, on March 18, screenshots showed a third and final text: "Sheryl I am thinking about you. Hope you are well. Sending my love."

Along with these shared screenshots, Osbourne told the Daily Mail that she also apologized to Underwood in person in her dressing room. Osbourne did not specify how Underwood responded, but she did tell the Mail: "Why are you saying I never apologized, Sheryl? What are you trying to do to me? Why are you trying to destroy my reputation? Just be honest. Tell me."

Insider has reached out to representatives for Underwood for comment.

This is the latest development in a saga that began when Osbourne left "The Talk" after a hiatus and internal review of the show from CBS. The broadcaster concluded Osbourne's "behavior" on the March 10 episode did not align with its values.

The investigation was launched after the "Talk" cohost Elaine Welteroth and her hairstylist filed a complaint describing a "racially insensitive and hostile environment" on the set of the show. This came immediately after the heated exchange on the March 10 show, during which Osbourne broke down in tears defending Morgan.

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Osbourne tweeted an apology to people of color for the exchange on March 12.

Osbourne said that she was "blindsided" by questions about Morgan on the March 10 show and that CBS executives had pushed her cohosts into asking questions about him. On her podcast, however, Underwood said she was the moderator of that particular discussion and none of the questions came from higher-ups.

Osbourne was then later accused of racism, as well as homophobia, by a former cohost, Leah Remini, who alleged that Osbourne called former cohost Julie Chen "slanty eyes" and "wonton" and called another former cohost, Sara Gilbert, who is a lesbian, "fish eater."

Osbourne denied these allegations and said she was being set up as a "sacrificial lamb."

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