Sharon Osbourne claims no one will hire her in America
Sharon Osbourne
Steven Ferdman/Getty ImagesSharon Osbourne says she can’t find work across the pond.
In an episode of ITV’s Famous big brother which aired in Britain on Thursday, March 7, Osbourne, 71, claimed she was “banned in America” following her dismissal from The conversation in 2021 following allegations of racist behavior behind the scenes.
“I was exiled in America,” Osbourne told her Famous big brother housemates Lauren Simon And Louis Walsh. “I didn’t do anything wrong.” When asked by Simon if she could find work in the US, Osbourne replied: “I can do it legally… but no one will hire me because they say I’m racist.
Simon responded by noting that Osbourne is Jewish, to which the Osbournes alum replied, “I know, and that’s what I said to them!” She continued, “They think we don’t know what it’s like to be bullied. I would never single out someone because of their race or religion.”
Sharon Osbourne’s foray into the spotlight began when she was hired as current husband Ozzy Osbourne’s talent manager. Nearly three years after Sharon came on board Ozzy’s team, they tied the knot – and more than forty years later, they’re still going strong. “The person who makes me laugh the most is my husband,” Sharon exclusively said […]
In March 2021, Osbourne defended her friend and media personality Piers Morgan for his comments on Meghan Markle‘s CBS interview, in which she spoke about experiencing racism and suicidal thoughts. Morgan’s comments, questioning the validity of Markle’s statements, were met with backlash from the public.
“Did I like everything he said? Did I agree with what he said? No,” Osbourne continued The conversation at the time. ‘Because it’s his opinion. It’s not my opinion… I support him for his freedom of speech, and he is my friend.”
Sheryl Underwood, Eve, Sara Gilbert, Carrie Ann Inaba and Sharon Osbourne of ‘The Talk.’
Noel Vasquez/Getty ImagesOsbourne’s co-host, Sheryl Underwoodresponded: “As you stand with your friend, it appears you are giving confirmation or safe haven to something he has said that is racist.”
The former x Factor judge came up with her own defense in response to Underwood. “I feel like I’m about to be put in the electric chair because I have a friend who a lot of people think is racist, so that makes me a racist,” she said.
Following these comments, Osbourne was further accused of racist and homophobic behavior behind the scenes The conversation. Although she denied these allegations, she was fired from the show shortly afterwards.
“The events of the March 10 broadcast were disturbing for everyone involved, including the audience watching at home,” CBS said in a statement at the time. “As part of our review, we concluded that Sharon’s behavior toward her co-hosts during the March 10 episode was inconsistent with our values for a respectful workplace.”
Since America’s Got Talent debuted in June 2006, the show has undergone many changes, including the occasional change of judges. The series, created by Simon Cowell, started with Piers Morgan, David Hasselhoff and Sharon Osbourne as judges. Later the show was expanded to include four judges and Cowell […]
Osbourne previously claimed in April 2022 that her career took a major hit after the… Conversation debacle. (She had been on the daytime talk show since 2010.)
“They said to me: ‘You are permanently suspended. We don’t think you have enough remorse. And we will decide if you ever come back,” the TV personality said The Sunday times. “And I said, ‘Well, who’s going to make that decision?’ And they said, ‘We can’t tell you that.’
Osbourne also said that while her career in Britain was unaffected by the controversy, the well of opportunity in the US seemed to immediately dry up.
“My phone to my TV career [in America was concerned] didn’t exist, not a single phone call. Nothing,” she said at the time. “In England and Australia it has never changed. Here it was as if I were dead.”