‘View’ Hosts Defend Kelly Osbourne: “You Sometimes Step in Dog Doo; It Does Not Make You a Racist”

Kelly Osbourne wasn’t back on The View on Wednesday. But her comments (“If you kick every Latino out of this country, then who is going to be cleaning your toilet, Donald Trump?”) from her guest co-hosting appearance on Tuesday were the hottest topic up for debate. The co-hosts took several minutes at the top of the show to defend Osbourne for her verbal gaffe, insisting she isn’t “a racist.”

Moderator Whoopi Goldberg began, explaining what Osbourne meant to say and how live TV leads people to say things they don’t mean.

“The point she was actually trying to make was that Donald Trump’s stance on immigration will only end up hurting the people that Donald Trump is counting on. I think that’s what she was trying to say,” Goldberg said. “One of the things that happens on live TV is you try to get your point in and you try to hit it and you sometimes step in dog doo. It does not make you a racist. … Sometimes your head works faster than your mouth. It happens.”

Later Goldberg added that if Osbourne was a racist, people would know. “She made a boo-boo. I know folks [are] outraged, but if you’ve ever met a real racist, it’s a whole other world, honey.”

Co-host Raven-Symone noted she’s “best friends” with Osbourne, who, she said, “feels awful right now.”

“I don’t think she’d be a racist if she was friends with me,” Raven-Symone said.

New co-host Michelle Collins insisted that Osbourne knew right away she misspoke.

“The second it came out of her mouth you could tell she was like what did I just say,” Collins said.

Co-host Nicolle Wallace, who was off on Tuesday, saw the incident as a teachable moment and defended fellow co-host Rosie Perez who tweeted her support for Osbourne after yesterday’s exchange. Perez wasn’t on Wednesday’s show.

“What struck me is that you guys know her heart and it was so instant that you were able to forgive her,” Wallace said. “And it made me wonder if we gave that kind of benefit of the doubt to people we’re ideologically opposed to, what a game-changer that would be.”

Wallace added: “Rosie Perez got a lot of backlash from the Latin community for defending Kelly. And I have to say to anyone who questions Rosie Perez’s commitment to the Latin community, she brought the first Latina secretary of the United States to this table. She celebrates and advances Latinos every day at this table so no one should question my girl RP’s commitment to the community because she forgave Kelly Osbourne.”

The co-hosts also quickly referenced Osbourne’s former Fashion Police co-host Giuliana Rancic‘s recent comments about Zendaya‘s hair making her look like she smokes weed. While those comments drew criticism from the View panel at the time, Raven-Symone, who wasn’t on the show during that controversy, quickly chimed in on Wednesday, “That’s not a racist statement.”

Former View co-host Sherri Shepherd, who’s set to return as a contributor for the show’s upcoming 19th season, also insisted on Twitter that Osbourne (and Rancic) just misspoke, quickly backtracking after she criticized Osbourne for her comments.

“If you kick every Latino out Donald Trump then who is going to be cleaning your toilets?” @KellyOsbourne … WTF! https://t.co/y2AaBBD1R0

— Sherri Shepherd (@SherriEShepherd) August 4, 2015

To reduce a “latino” down to only being able2 clean toilets @KellyOsbourne – ask @TheRitaMoreno @CristinaOpina @GloriaEstefan their thoughts

— Sherri Shepherd (@SherriEShepherd) August 4, 2015

oooh Lawd @KellyOsbourne latinos can only clean toilets… what are blacks good for? breastfeeding dem babies! Girl what did you just say!

— Sherri Shepherd (@SherriEShepherd) August 4, 2015

cutting @KellyOsbourne a little slack, bc I’ve done it myself … sometimes isht comes out of your mouth live that you didn’t mean to say

— Sherri Shepherd (@SherriEShepherd) August 4, 2015

Yes I think that’s what @KellyOsbourne meant… don’t worry she’ll be explaining it further https://t.co/4nlx5YZkDh

— Sherri Shepherd (@SherriEShepherd) August 4, 2015

It’s okay @KellyOsbourne … @GiulianaRancic did same … sometimes we say dumb stuff & regret it but hope we have friends who understand

— Sherri Shepherd (@SherriEShepherd) August 4, 2015