Daytime talk show, The Talk continues to shake things up as hosts exit and replacements are quickly being filtered in by interesting choices. One of those interesting replacements is former NFL player Akbar Gbajabiamila.
The former American Ninja Warrior contestant is slated to replace Carrie Ann Inaba who left the show a few months ago. Gbajabiamila spoke with the Hollywood Reporter about his new job.
“It is an absolute honor to be joining ‘The Talk’ as a host. I am so excited for this new generation of such a long-standing establishment.”
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Newest New Co-Host
The athlete has been impressed with how varied the cast of the daytime talk show is already. “To be a part of this diverse group is truly a dream and a new statement for ‘The Talk,’” he continued, “in a world, as divided as ours, I look forward to showing up as my fun and authentic self every day and advocating for conversation over confrontation.”
He joins another new cast member Jerry O’Connell who was the first male to join the normally all-female cast. What should be an exciting time is, unfortunately, kind of overshadowed by now-former co-host Elaine Welteroth, exiting the show earlier this week.
The shocking exit comes less than a year after Welteroth took on the new job. She too has allegedly expressed her unhappiness with the show’s environment.
‘Couldn’t Stomach It’
Two hosts leaving in such a short time of one another has created a toxic conversation around the popular show. PageSix reported that Inaba allegedly left because she could no longer endure the negativity around her.
The source for the news outlet claimed that she just “couldn’t stomach it”. It was reported that the show would be looking to replace her with a male and eventually brought in the former athlete. It couldn’t calm whatever storm was allegedly brewing on set because Welteroth announced her exit shortly after.
‘A New Day’
Gbajabiamila isn’t prepared to let all the drama surrounding his new gig get him down, he pointed out to the publication that TV is changing for the better. The Talk executive producer and showrunner, Heather Gray echoed his sentiments.
“It’s a new day in daytime for season 12 of ‘The Talk,’ and we are thrilled to welcome Akbar to the family,” shared executive producer and showrunner Heather Gray to THR. “His engaging personality, openness, and quick wit really impressed us when he appeared as a guest co-host last season.”
The show has been on a mission to change its image since former co-host Sharon Osbourne was blasted for making negative comments about race and defending her “good friend” Piers Morgan after he put his foot in his mouth for the umpteenth time.
Hopefully, the cast shakeup is worth the risk! The new host will join the panel on September 13 along with his co-hosts Amanda Kloots, Sheryl Underwood, and O’Connell.
