THE Talk’s Elaine Welteroth was “embarrassed” by the show’s scandals and was “offended” new co-host Jerry O’Connell scored a higher salary before her exit.
Elaine, 34, announced she is leaving The Talk after just one season following the departures of Sharon Osbourne and Carrie Ann Inaba earlier this year.
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The Sun can exclusively reveal Elaine was “embarrassed” by the show’s “low ratings” and “direction.”
An insider told The Sun: “She was hired to have deep, meaningful conversations that are important to women and especially women of color and they want meaningless fluff.
“Hiring a male to replace Sharon was offensive to Elaine.”
PAYCHECK PROBLEMS
The Sun previously reported Jerry scored a $2million salary, though reps for CBS denied the figure.
The source continued of the pay day: “Being paid less than Jerry was offensive to Elaine. She was vocal about it.”
The insider previously told The Sun of the salary dispute: “Jerry’s salary is less than half of Sharon’s salary, but more than Sheryl. Amanda and Elaine are making mid six figures.
“No one ever complained about Sharon making more money because she was the star of the show and known across the globe so the show could be sold to other countries and generate revenue.
“She was the centerpiece and was the only person to generate regular press coverage. The woman rallied around her and knew she deserved more compensation for the prestige and relevance she brought to the show.”
The insider continued: “Expect the women to ask for raises to equal his salary.
“His salary is really what the women are questioning. To be paid less than a man does not sit well with any of the ladies and there will be some serious conversations that will take place.
“Elaine has been an advocate of equal pay and has spoken out about people of color being paid less and will make sure she and the other women are properly compensated.”
CAST SHAKEUP
A source told The Sun in May that Sheryl and Elaine were “not happy” that Jerry was in negotiations to replace Sharon.
The source claimed: “On camera everyone is lovey-dovey and laughing together, but off camera Sheryl and Elaine have raised some serious concerns.
“Sheryl thinks Jerry is fine for the Men of May month producers planned, but beyond that she feels we are telling the audience that women cannot behave themselves and be friends.
“It’s not the narrative Sheryl wants out there and she thinks it would further damage public perception.”
As for Elaine, she wants to focus less on the light-hearted and humorous topics discussed with Jerry on the show.
The source continued: “Elaine wants to use her voice to address important conversations like Black Lives Matter, under representation in the workplace and police brutality, not surface conversations about Katy Perry not shaving her legs.
“Elaine feels she was hired to have deep meaningful conversations and now the show is abandoning that plan to have silly conversations.”
Though Jerry is a big name, the source said: “The truth is that no one can replace Mrs. O. Sharon was the centerpiece of the show.”
A second insider said: “The hosts are enjoying ‘The Talk’s Men of May’ with Jerry and the fun and entertaining discussions they’ve been having on the show.
“The Talk will continue to address important, timely topics as well.”
RECORDING SCANDAL
Elaine was also involved in a scandal regarding Sharon’s departure.
Sharon, 68, quit the show in March after her on-air fight with Sheryl over her decision to stand by her friend Piers Morgan’s criticism of Meghan Markle.
On the same day Jerry was announced as her replacement, DailyMail.com published an audio recording where Elaine can be heard consoling a distraught Sharon moments after her heated fight with Sheryl, 57, occurred.
Elaine was heard reassuring Sharon that “no one thinks she’s racist” in a conversation that allegedly took place in Sharon’s dressing room following the fight.
She told Sharon she believed she was “set up” by producers and revealed CBS showrunners wanted her to ask the question that sparked the fight with Sheryl.
Throughout the conversation, Sharon sobbed as she said Sheryl never publicly confirmed she isn’t racist and said she felt “like somebody punched me in the face.”
ELAINE’S GOODBYE
Elaine revealed her departure from the show over Instagram on Tuesday.
She captioned a series clips from the CBS talk show: “If you told Oprah-obsessed, 9-year-old me that she’d one day get the golden opportunity to be on daytime TV, she never would’ve believed you. It is an absolute honor for anyone, but especially a young Black woman, to occupy this space on-air where our perspectives are largely underrepresented.
“And tbh, if you told 33-year-old me ALL it would take to show up as her authentic self in front of a live national audience every day in a world as divided as ours, she probably would’ve been shook lol.
“I’m so glad I didn’t shy away from this divine assignment to learn, to grow, to laugh, to cry, to make new friends, to learn a ton, and most importantly, to stay true to myself and what I stand for every single day—even when it was uncomfortable.
“I joined @thetalkcbs because I was excited to break out of my own echo chamber and join a diverse cast in helping to bridge some of the divides in our world through conversation and empathy. While that work will never stop, as I always say: when the music changes, so must your dance!
She continued that she is “moving into a new chapter and won’t be back next season,” but will miss her “talented co-hosts and crew.”
The Project Runway judge ended the caption: “Thank you all for riding with me through this journey. Stay tuned for some exciting updates ahead.”
The show currently stars Sheryl, Amanda Kloots and Jerry.
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