Every ‘The Talk’ Host Through the Years and Why They Left

Credit: JAMES WHITE/CBS

Every 'The Talk' Host Through the Years and Why They Left

The Talk has been a daytime TV staple since it premiered in 2010. The show first aired with Sara Gilbert, Holly Robinson Peete, Leah Remini, Julie Chen and Sharon Osbourne as cohosts, but that panel has changed several times since then. The Talk returned for season 11 in September 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic. Osbourne, who came under fire for defending Piers Morgan during a March 2021 episode of the morning show, was the only original cast member remaining. She cohosted alongside Sheryl Underwood, Carrie Ann Inaba and Eve, the latter of whom later left the show. Amanda Kloots and Elaine Welteroth were then brought in as replacements. Kloots' addition to the show was emotional, as it came months after her husband, Nick Cordero, died from COVID-19. "I am thrilled and honored to join this incredible cast and crew," she said in a statement in December 2020. "I look forward to starting off the new year with honest and thought-provoking discussions, mixed with plenty of fun and laughter too." Osbourne is the only The Talk cohost to make it through all 11 seasons of the show. Amid the controversy surrounding her comments about Morgan, she said that she was not sure she wanted to return to her seat on the panel. "I wish we could go on and have [an] adult conversation calmly and work it out, but I don't know whether we can," the Osbournes alum told Entertainment Tonight in March 2021. "I don't know whether it's gone past that. I would love to, but I don't know whether I even want to go back. ... I don't know whether I'm wanted there." [jwplayer NclITK54-l3ahXupL] After coming to Morgan's defense following his Good Morning Britain exit, Osbourne got in a heated debate with Underwood on the show. She admitted, while speaking with ET about the situation, that she "got too personal" and said she was willing to make it right. More allegations followed, however. Remini alleged that the British TV personality had used racist and homophobic slurs toward Chen and Gilbert. Osbourne responded to the King of Queens alum's claims in a statement via her rep, Howard Bragman, who called Remini "a disgruntled former employee." He added, "[Sharon] will survive this, as she always has, and her heart will remain open and good, because she refuses to let others take her down. She thanks her family, friends and fans for standing by her and knowing her true nature." The Talk went on an extended hiatus that same month following the incident. CBS addressed the decision in a statement issued to Us Weekly. "CBS is committed to a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace across all of our productions. We're also very mindful of the important concerns expressed and discussions taking place regarding events on The Talk," the statement read. "This includes a process where all voices are heard, claims are investigated, and appropriate action is taken where necessary. The show will extend its production hiatus until next Tuesday as we continue to review these issues." Keep scrolling to see all the Talk hosts who have left through the years and why. [podcast_block]

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Holly Robinson Peete

Peete left The Talk in August 2011. She has since come forward with allegations against Osbourne, who was cohosting the daytime TV show with her at the time. Peete alleged that Osbourne said she was "too ghetto," which the England native has denied.

The actress served as The Talk cohost in season 1 and did not return for a second. Her exit was considered controversial, as she alleged that she was blindsided. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter at the time, Peete claimed that executives never sat her down to discuss her leaving The Talk.

"So, I just started hearing rumors that other people were hired," she revealed. "So, I'm like, 'That's going to be a crowded table. ... It was a very frustrating time — the most frustrating time of my professional life."

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Leah Remini

The actress left The Talk after a single season in August 2011. The exact reason for her dismissal as cohost is unclear, but Remini has some theories, including that she had been ousted. In a 2012 tweet, she accused Osbourne of thinking she and Peete "were 'ghetto.'"

She continued, "We were not funny, awkward and didn't know ourselves. She has the power that was given to her."

Those claims resurfaced in light of the 2021 controversy surrounding Osbourne, and she denied them.

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Marissa Jaret Winokur

Winokur left The Talk in January 2011. During her time on the show, she did a segment called "Mom in the Street." She left amid airtime struggles as the show grew and her segments no longer fit in.

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Aisha Tyler

Tyler announced her exit from The Talk in June 2017. She shared the news through tears, telling viewers she "had to let something go." At the time, the actress was cohosting the show, starring on Criminal Minds, hosting Whose Line Is It Anyway? and voicing a character on Archer.

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Julie Chen

The Big Brother host announced that she was stepping down as the Talk cohost and moderator in September 2018 amid a sexual misconduct scandal involving husband Les Moonves, who was the chairman and CEO of CBS before his resignation. She told viewers at the time she was leaving to spend "more time at home."

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Sara Gilbert

The Roseanne star, who created The Talk, said she was leaving the show in April 2019 to focus on family.

"If I'm being honest about it, my life was slightly out of balance, and I was not spending as much time with my three kids as I would like and time for myself," she shared at the time.

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Marie Osmond

Osmond left The Talk in September 2020 after signing on in 2019. She confirmed her exit in a statement via Instagram, writing a long goodbye to showrunner and executive producer John Redmann.

"I'm excited to continue our working relationship on several projects we are developing," she wrote. "Also, my husband and I just dropped our last two kids off at college, we looked at each other, laughed and remembered we hadn't been this alone together since 1982!! So, at this stage of my life, I'm looking forward to spending more time with him and visiting all the kids/grandkids."

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Eve

The "Gotta Man" singer appeared on her final episode of The Talk in December 2020.

"I truly, genuinely, for real love you," she told her cohosts during her final show. "I have been so lucky and so grateful to be a part of this show. I've learned from each of you ladies."

She announced that she would be leaving a month earlier after filming the show remotely from London. Eve told fans she planned to focus on her husband, Maximillion Cooper, and "expanding our family, being with my family."

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Sharon Osbourne

Osbourne exited the show in March 2021 after the controversy led to an internal investigation.

"The events of the March 10 broadcast were upsetting to everyone involved, including the audience watching at home. As part of our review, we concluded that Sharon’s behavior toward her cohosts during the March 10 episode did not align with our values for a respectful workplace. We also did not find any evidence that CBS executives orchestrated the discussion or blindsided any of the hosts," the network said. "At the same time, we acknowledge the network and studio teams, as well as the showrunners, are accountable for what happened during that broadcast as it was clear the cohosts were not properly prepared by the staff for a complex and sensitive discussion involving race."

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Carrie Ann Inaba

The In Living Color alum took a leave of absence in April 2021 to focus on her "wellbeing," she posted via Instagram at the time. "I know you guys understand, health is the most important thing," she said. "So, I appreciate your support, I appreciate the love and support from The Talk family."

The Dancing With the Stars judge confirmed she would not return to the CBS daytime show in August 2021, months after initially taking a leave of absence due to health issues.

“Live in gratitude for all that is, was and will be, and with that thought, I want to announce that today, The Talk, CBS and I have mutually agreed to part ways,” she explained in an Instagram Story. “I just want to say that I’m filled with gratitude for the experience and for this chapter of my life that has been The Talk. I have made lifelong friendships, I’ve had incredible experiences and I’ve had wonderful discussions that helped me evolve as a human being.”

She continued, “It’s been an honor to be a part of your lives and to have a voice. So I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to not only my fellow cohosts, past and present, but also to those behind the scenes whom I love so deeply.”

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Elaine Welteroth

Welteroth announced her exit from the daytime show in August 2021. "It is an absolute honor for anyone, but especially a young Black woman, to occupy space on-air where our perspectives are largely underrepresented," she said in a statement. "It was gratifying to be able to show up as my authentic self in front of a live national audience every day in a world as divided as ours and to stay true to myself and what I stand for."

She continued, "I came to The Talk to break out of my own echo chamber and to join a diverse cast in helping to bridge some of the divides in our world through conversation and empathy. I’m proud of how I represented myself and my community. But as I always say: when the music changes, so must your dance! I will miss my talented cohosts and crew and I wish them the very best. Thanks to all those who tuned in every day."

CBS also said in a statement that they wish her "all the best" in the future. "Her openness and meaningful conversations were attributes we admired and always appreciated," the producers added.

Two months after her exit, she announced she is expecting her first child.