Did the cast of ‘The Talk’ force Marie Osmond to quit?
Marie Osmond’s unexpected departure from The Talk might not have been as innocent as we previously heard. Osmond originally became a co-host for The Talk in 2019 as a replacement for Sara Gilbert, who revealed she was leaving to be with her family and to focus on The Connors.
After only one season of co-hosting the daytime talk show, Osmond announced she would be leaving The Talk shortly before the season eleven premiere. This announcement came in the midst of on-air arguments with co-hosts and behind-the-scenes animosity recently revealed by some CBS insiders.
While the rumors haven’t been corroborated, some fans took their concerns about Osmond online, even calling for The Talk’s cancellation following Osmond’s quick departure. Here’s what we know about Marie Osmond’s relationship with her former co-hosts and what she’s up to now.
Rumors of being quietly fired
A source at CBS told Page Six Sharon Osbourne & Sheryl Underwood went to CBS executives, saying they would quit if Osmond didn’t leave. The source said, “Marie did not leave of her own accord”. The source also claimed Osbourne & Underwood initially confronted Osbourne, asking her to quit. When that didn’t work, Osbourne & Underwood “made an ultimatum to the network”.
While we don’t know what Eve thinks about the situation, the source stated Carrie Ann Inaba “pleaded with execs for Marie to stay”. Page Six stated they reached out for comment from each party, but they “refused to comment”.
Clashing co-hosts?
Before her official departure, Osmond’s friend told The Sun she “suspected” Osmond wouldn’t get a new contract at The Talk, since “she and fans could see clear divides between the outspoken women”.
There were a few indications of animosity between the co-hosts on the show, specifically between Osmond & Osbourne. Osbourne even received backlash for how she treated Osmond, with some fans calling for Osbourne’s departure, with many calling Osbourne “rude”, according to The Sun. The tabloid also spoke to a CBS source, saying some of the co-hosts “were not the warmest” and at times “frosty”.
Osmond’s departure
Deadline first reported Osmond’s exit in early September, shortly before the start of The Talk’s eleventh season. CBS didn’t reveal too much in their statement, only saying they “will miss her humor, kindness, and good nature”.
Likewise, Osmond only made a short statement on Twitter, where she thanked The Talk’s former executive producer & showrunner John Redmann, who also left during the show’s summer hiatus. Osmond will still be busy with other work, including a new show with ViacomCBS, according to Deadline, and she stated her intent to work with Redmann on other projects.
The co-hosts of The Talk haven’t said too much about Osmond’s departure, but Sharon Osbourne told Entertainment Tonight earlier in September she believes having only four hosts means they’ve “got more time to talk”.
Upset fans
The source who spoke to Page Six said The Talk has faced “extreme backlash” on social media, even receiving “thousands of negative comments flooding their accounts”. One fan on Instagram said the show is “not the same without Marie”.
The Sun reported multiple fans voicing their concerns on The Talk’s Facebook page, with one fan saying they “weren’t impressed at all” by the show’s new format. Others said the show “should be taken off TV” and have called Osmond’s surprising farewell “unfair”.
Where is Marie Osmond now?
According to The Sun, Osmond hasn’t been watching the new season of The Talk, with a friend saying Osmond “has made a conscious effort to forget and move on”. As of right now, The Talk is the “last thing on her mind” and she’s currently on a road trip with her husband Stephen Craig.
