SHARON OSBOURNE Offers Support To Women Inmates

August 16, 2003

Stefanie Frith of The Press-Enterprise is reporting that Sharon Osbourne, wife of former BLACK SABBATH frontman Ozzy Osbourne, was at the California Institution for Women near Chino this week filming a segment for her new daytime talk show, "The Sharon Osbourne Show", which premieres Sept. 15 on the WB network. A web site promo describes the show as mix of stories featuring "real people," and of course, celebrities. Producers have not yet determined when they will run the segment taped at CIW.

Osbourne says that she remembers what it was like to be abused by old boyfriends. She said abuse happens in every home, and if it can happen to her, it can happen to anyone.

That's why it makes her so angry that women are incarcerated at the California Institution for Women for killing their abusers. Anyone can get into a bad relationship, she said.

"I can't tell you how wrong it is that they are here," said Osbourne, who may be best known as the mom on MTV's "The Osbournes", the cable network's highest-rated show. "It can happen to anyone. It could have happened to me. All it takes is a second of bad judgment."

Wynona "Ruth" Phariss, 54, of Riverside said she has only told the story of how her husband was shot to two people: a college professor and Osbourne. Now, the entire country will know, she said.

"It was nerve-wracking," said Phariss, who has served 12 years in prison for second-degree murder. "But she was awfully nice to talk to."

Anna Gilinets, 29, of Van Nuys, has served 10 years for second-degree murder. She shot her boyfriend after an argument, she said.

"I hope now that America knows we are not all mass murderers, that we are individuals," said Gilinets.

Phariss, Gilinets and Norma Cumpian, 32, were chosen by Osbourne's crew a few weeks ago to go on camera for the television show. Each was interviewed in different locations around the prison, including the meal hall. Cumpian joked about how Osbourne, who is a vegetarian, didn't want to eat the hamburgers provided for dinner. Read more.

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