Sharon Osbourne Says CBS Execs Ordered 'The Talk' Co-Hosts to Grill Her About Piers Morgan

Sharon Osbourne is speaking out with accusations against CBS following the episode of The Talk in which she discussed her friend Piers Morgan‘s comments about Meghan Markle.

The television personality previously defended Piers‘ right to freedom of speech and later made a statement about how she didn’t actually agree with what he said.

Now, Sharon says that CBS executives ordered her The Talk co-hosts to grill her on the subject and she was blindsided by the action.

“I blame the network for it,” Sharon told Variety. “I was blindsided, totally blindsided by the whole situation. In my 11 years, this was the first time I was not involved with the planning the segment.”

Sharon says that she was asked by The Talk showrunners just eight minutes before the show if it was okay to discuss Piers.

“I said, ‘Sure, they can ask me whatever.’ But then I get on there, I say my piece and Sheryl [Underwood] turns around straight-faced, looks at me and is reading from a card with questions. I was just so hurt, caught off guard and stunned by what I was being asked and not prepared. I was honestly in shock. I felt like I was in front of a firing squad. I felt like a lamb held out for slaughter. … They had me there for 20 minutes,’” Sharon said.

Sharon says she “begged them to stop, to please change subjects” during a commercial break.

“I’m a big girl. I’m a professional,” she said. “However CBS blindsided me. I don’t know why they did it to me. The showrunners told me it came from executives to do this to me.”

Sharon also responded to former co-host Holly Robinson Peete‘s claim that she had her fired from the show.

“It’s an absolute lie—a 110 percent lie,” Sharon said. “I cannot have anyone fired…And that is a not a term I use. That’s not in my vocabulary. I don’t speak like that. The only ghetto I know is the Warsaw Ghetto and I think that’s the only time I’ve ever referred to something like that.”

CBS announced on Friday that the network is investigating the episode. A rep told Deadline, “We are committed to a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace. All matters related to the Wednesday episode of The Talk are currently under internal review.”