‘The Talk’ producers ‘destroyed the show’ with Sharon Osbourne debacle

Sharon Osbourne is refusing to go down without a fight as “The Talk” investigates claims of racism and toxicity at the CBS show.

A source told us Osbourne is now expecting to be fired, but won’t go without a huge payout.

“The network will have to pay her a sizeable settlement to keep her quiet after this,” the source said.

“She could write a book, she would do a world of interviews. She knows where all the bodies are buried.”

We’re told showrunners and joint executive producers Heather Gray and Kristin Matthews may have to take some of the fall for the race row because they allegedly didn’t prepare Sharon for the heated showdown with Sheryl Underwood that kicked off the drama.

Of the showrunners, a second source said, “They blew it. Not preparing Sharon was a fatal mistake. It has destroyed the show.

“They may also have to take the fall. The staff is waiting for the announcement that Sharon is done, but meanwhile they are still all pointing fingers,” the source said.

Meanwhile, there continues to be a behind-the-scenes race to toss various members of the show’s production under the bus.

A third source told us a different CBS executive was the person who made the call to have the hosts engage in a fuller discussion with Osbourne over her support of Piers Morgan’s controversial comments about Meghan Markle.

“Both [co-hosts] Elaine [Welteroth] and Sheryl [Underwood] were made aware 30 to 35 minutes [before going on air] that there was an executive decision to make it a [longer] conversation and they [the co-hosts] were told Sharon knew,” the source said.

But Osbourne has said in interviews that she felt ambushed and was unaware that the topic would be a full segment. She also said she feels CBS blindsided her for the sake of creating explosive TV.

And Osbourne’s subsequent media tour is doing her no favors. The source said, “CBS is very unhappy that Sharon has concocted a story saying that all of this is personal retaliation on her for defending Piers because CBS was the home of the Meghan Markle interview,” the third source added.

“The implication is that CBS was trying to protect their investment in the [Harry and Meghan] interview and tried to make her the martyr, [and that] is not helping her at the network. It’s so far-fetched. Sharon is in this predicament because of her actions and nothing more. It’s ultimately going to compromise whatever happens to her in the future.”

Page Six previously reported that co-host Elaine Welteroth and a hairstylist had complained of the alleged “racially insensitive and hostile environment” on the show.

A source said, “Elaine Welteroth and her hairstylist complained to HR over Sharon Osbourne’s recent exchange with Sheryl Underwood. They said they don’t feel comfortable working in a racially insensitive and hostile environment.”

CBS sent a memo to all hosts, crew and other staff asking for anyone with complaints to come forward or report their concerns to an anonymous tip line.

Then a bombshell report emerged that — according to former “The Talk” co-host Leah Remini — Osbourne had referred to former host Julie Chen, who is Chinese American, as a “wonton” and “slanty eyes” and to former co-host Sara Gilbert, who is a lesbian, as a “p—y licker” during their time together on “The Talk.”

But embattled Osbourne denied calling Chen any racial epithet, terming the allegation “crap.”

“Everyone’s got an opinion or a story like the wonton story. It’s like, f–k off with your f–king wonton story. F–k off,” Osbourne said in an interview.

Reps for CBS and Osbourne did not comment to Page Six.