Sharon Osbourne has prompted outrage by exploding at her The Talk co-host Sheryl Underwood while defending Piers Morgan against racism claims over his attacks on Meghan Markle.
Osbourne was accused of "weaponising her tears" as a white woman after demanding Underwood "educate her" about how Morgan had been racist in his slew of criticisms against the Duchess of Sussex.
Morgan attacked Meghan for claims she made in her tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, calling her "contemptible" and insisting he "didn't believe a word she said" about having suicidal urges during her time as a royal. Morgan's tirade the day after the interview aired prompted over 41,000 complaints - one of which was reportedly laid by Meghan herself.
Osbourne said she felt Morgan had "a right to say what he feels" about the bombshell interview, defending the disgraced broadcaster's "freedom of speech".
"I feel like I'm about to be put in the electric chair because I have a friend who many people think is a racist so that makes me a racist," she added.
"For me, at 68 years of age to have to turn around and say 'I ain't racist' - what's it got to do with me? How could I be racist about anybody? How could I be racist about anybody or anything in my life? How can I?"
Underwood was cut off by an irate Osbourne when she attempted to answer, beginning "well..." before Osbourne replied: "Well, what?"
Osbourne later told an upset Underwood: "Don't you cry, because if anyone should be crying, it should be me."
She then demanded: "You tell me where you have heard [Morgan] say racist things. Educate me. Tell me."
Underwood attempted to explain that she felt the "implication" of Morgan's words and his "reaction" to Markle had racist undertones, despite him not uttering "the exact words of racism".
"To not want to address that because she is a Black woman, and to try to dismiss it or to make it seem less than what it is, that's what makes it racist," she explained.
"But right now, I'm talking to a woman who I believe is my friend and I don't want anybody here to watch this and say that we're attacking you for being racist. And for that, if I articulated anything..."
Osbourne then cut her off again, scoffing: "I think it's too late. I think that seed is already sewn."
The X-Factor judge quickly drew backlash for her treatment of her co-host, with one Twitter user calling the display "disgusting", saying Osbourne had "lost complete control".
"You don't demand POC educate you on racism. I was heartbroken watching them have to sit there and take it. Case again of a white woman weaponising her tears against black women," the tweet read.
"This is Sharon Osbourne, telling a black woman not to cry and demanding a definition of racism, as she sobs over Piers Morgan who walked off his job because a mixed black coworker calmly challenged his fixation on Meghan Markle," Comedian Rae Sanni wrote.
"White women are something else. Your tears are weapons."
Meanwhile, some felt that Osbourne's response was entirely unsurprising, given her "consistently loud willful stupidity about race throughout the years".
"The public gaslighting might be a new lil twist tho," one tweet read. "Sheryl, I am so sorry."
Morgan stormed off the ITV set of Good Morning Britain earlier this week when presenter Alex Beresford condemned him for his "continued trashing" of Markle, who he reminded Morgan "cut him off" when she began dating Prince Harry.
Not long after, it was announced that Morgan would be leaving his role on the breakfast show, and he has since doubled down on his opinions of Markle.
