Julie Chen Moonves Talks Sharon Osbourne’s “Sudden Departure” From ‘The Talk’ On ‘WWHL’: “It Was [Like] Watching A Train Wreck”

Julie Chen Moonves is talking The Talk — particularly, how she felt about former co-host Sharon Osbourne‘s “sudden departure.”

Replying to a fan question on Tuesday’s (Sept. 19) episode of Andy Cohen‘s Watch What Happens Live, the Big Brother host shared that she the last time she had contacted Osbourne was “maybe eight months before” Osbourne left the show in 2021, after seeing a picture of her daughter Kelly Osbourne “looking really healthy and beautiful.”

She then shared that she thought her coworker’s departure from the series “was handled really horribly.”

“It was very sad to see,” she added.

Osbourne left The Talk in March 2021, following controversial comments she made surrounding her defense of Piers Morgan, which led to an on-air scuffle with co-host Sheryl Underwood on a March 10, 2021 episode.

Morgan, a friend of Osbourne’s, didn’t believe comments made by Meghan Markle — specifically about her mental health and her allegations that members of the royal family made racist statements — in her interview with Oprah Winfrey. Underwood told Osbourne on the show, “While you are standing by your friend, it appears that you are giving validation or safe haven to something that he has uttered that is racist,” per Deadline.

“It’s a show called The Talk,” Cohen pointed out on WWHL. “I thought they should’ve gone on and talked it out,” referring to Osbourne’s dismissal.

Chen Moonves said, “Yes, and I didn’t feel like it was produced to the point where — I don’t think people knew what they were doing and getting themselves into. The whole thing was a horrible mess. It was [like] watching a train wreck.”

According to People, an investigation had also found that Osbourne used racist descriptors to refer to Chen Moonves, including calling her “wonton” and “slanty eyes.” Osbourne denied the allegations, telling The Daily Mail at the time, “it’s all crap.”

Chen Moonves recently alleged on Good Morning America that she was forced to leave the CBS panel show in 2018 after her husband, former CBS chairman Les Moonves, was accused of sexual misconduct.

The Talk has delayed their season premiere amid the ongoing WGA strike. WWHL  airs Sunday through Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on Bravo, and next-day streaming is available on Peacock.