'The Talk's' Elaine Welteroth Breaks Silence On Leaked Audio of Her Consoling Sharon Osbourne

Elaine Welteroth is speaking out after audio was leaked of her consoling former "The Talk" co-host Sharon Osbourne following the latter's heated exchange with Sheryl Underwood.

Earlier this week, Daily Mail published an audio recording of Welteroth telling a sobbing Osbourne, "I know you're not racist," after her tense March 10 on-air confrontation with Underwood. During the episode, Osbourne had defended friend Piers Morgan in the wake of his controversial comments about Meghan Markle.

In a statement to Entertainment Tonight, Welteroth claimed that their conversation was recorded without her consent.

"I thought we had closed the painful, public chapter of the controversy related to the March 10th show. Today, however, I learned that my private comments made moments after the incident from a place of compassion to a then-colleague (the most senior level co-host on The Talk) were recorded —without my consent or knowledge—and shared with the media," Welteroth said.

She said her comments were consistent with what she had previously said on camera and that "nothing has changed." Welteroth added that it's not news that she did not call Osbourne racist and neither was their surprise over how the episode unfolded. However, she aired her side regarding the leaked recording because she felt that it was used against her.

"To set the record straight, it was not a hot mic—I was unlawfully recorded without consent. And I never filed a complaint with HR against Sharon Osbourne or anyone else," she continued. "I am disheartened, however, that my kindness has been taken out of context and weaponized in an attempt to absolve responsibility for someone else’s actions."

She ended her statement by expressing her excitement over the talk show as they welcomed their new co-host Jerry O'Connell, who joined them on Wednesday's episode.

"I was honored to join The Talk to add my voice to important and lively conversations. I am so excited about the next chapter with our new co-host Jerry O'Connell and I am grateful for the new perspectives he will bring to the show," she stated.

Meanwhile, an unnamed insider told Page Six that the leaked recording was allegedly from Osbourne's side and speculated that it was deliberately released around the time O'Connell joined the show.

"This is her . . . vendetta against the show," the source told Page Six. She's "probably been holding onto [the audio] for this moment. It’s no coincidence that it was released as the show announced Jerry O’Connell as her replacement. It’s pretty crappy because everyone thought they’d move on and was ready for the new chapter."

Another unnamed source told the outlet, "They’re masquerading like it was a ‘hot mic’ moment, but they were not [wearing the show’s mics] at all. Someone in Sharon’s camp illegally recorded their conversation and leaked it. It was the ultimate Karen move. Sharon is the unhinged TV Karen."

Osbourne left "The Talk" in March following her intense exchange with Underwood. Osbourne sided with Morgan, who was facing backlash at the time for questioning the validity of Markle's revelations about her mental health during her interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Right after the episode aired, CBS placed "The Talk" on an extended hiatus before announcing Osbourne's exit on March 26. The series returned without her on April 12.