Natalie Morales is pictured for the first time since announcing she left to save The Talk

Natalie Morales said quitting NBC after 22 years was ‘bittersweet’ but was ‘happy to move on’ as DailyMail.com revealed she would save ‘The Talk’ after disastrous exit by Sharon Osbourne from the show. .

The former West Coast NBC Today Show and Dateline host was all smiles as she walked her dogs with husband Joe Rhodes in Santa Monica on Friday.

She was spotted the same day she announced she would be leaving NBC News after a 22-year career.

The reporter stopped and spoke to a photographer and said it was “bittersweet” to leave the network after so many years.

“It’s bittersweet, I had a big family there, I love my team there, but I’m happy to move on.”

DailyMail.com exclusively revealed on Friday that Morales will replace Shannon Osbourne on ‘The Talk’ after being ousted from the show earlier this year following a racist discussion with her co-host Sheryl Underwood.

When asked during her walk if she was excited to switch to The Talk, Morales said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’m happy to have a new chapter in my life and a new opportunity. Forward and up.

Casually dressed in a cashmere top, denim jacket and sneakers, the 49-year-old was seen talking on the phone clearly very elated as she walked her puppy.

Right in front of Morales was her husband who was also walking another of their dogs.

Executives at ‘The Talk’ told DailyMail.com they were hopeful Morales could get the show back on track after Osbourne’s controversial departure.

Osbourne, 68, left the show earlier this year after she and her co-host Sheryl Underwood engaged in an explosive debate. She claimed the incident was orchestrated to pass her off as a racist for defending her longtime friend Piers Morgan, who was himself called a racist for criticizing Duchess Meghan Markle.

Osbourne then apologized for his ‘panicked’ defense of Morgan and The Talk was put on hold as an internal investigation was launched.

Allegations quickly emerged that Osbourne made racist remarks about the behind-the-scenes co-hosts of The Talk – claims she firmly denied.

On March 26, CBS announced that Osbourne would be stepping down from his post on the show after more than a decade.

“We have to save the show after Sharon Osbourne’s disastrous exit,” a CBS source told DailyMail.com.

“Natalie is a beloved news star and her gravity can help us overthrow The Talk.

Another CBS source said: “With Natalie joining Jerry, we think we have an opportunity to float and fix a sinking ship.”

NBC declined to comment. DailyMail.com has contacted CBS for comment.

Morales herself has confirmed reports of her departure, saying she will pursue a new opportunity as she steps down from the Today show and complete her work on Dateline in the coming weeks.

“To my Dateline and Today families, it’s very difficult to say goodbye… and we all know in this area it’s never goodbye but see you later,” she said in Friday. a statement. “I am eternally grateful for the support and the deep friendships that will remain, no matter where our paths lead.”

“I’m having a hard time finding the right words and there are far too many people I have to thank for a wonderful career at NBC News,” she added.

Morales began working for NBC at its affiliate station WVIT in Hartford, Connecticut, before becoming a presenter and correspondent for MSNBC from 2002 to 2006.

Early in his career, Morales covered the 2000 presidential election, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Operation Iraqi Freedom, the 2003 Northeast Blackout.

Morales joined the Today show in 2006 as a national correspondent before being named co-host in 2008. She eventually replaced Ann Curry as official Today presenter in 2011.

In 2016, Morales moved to the West Coast to host Access and became the Today Show West Anchor.

Although she stepped down from Access hosting in 2019, Morales remained the West Coast host and in 2020 it was announced that she would join Dateline as an official correspondent.

Morales joined friends and colleges Lester Holt, Andrea Canning, Dennis Murphy, Josh Mankiewicz and Keith Morrison on Dateline.

While she was one of NBC’s biggest names, Morales covered the 2011 royal wedding between the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the 2012 Boston Marathon bombing and the Las Vegas massacre. in 2017.

Morales, who is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, also translated the 2010 Chilean miner rescue to Americans glued to their TVs, which helped NBC win the 2010 National Headliner Award.

Morales herself has won three Daytime Emmy Awards as part of Team Today, as well as a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award and three Gracie Awards for Outstanding Reporting.

Morales said: “This first half of my life has been full of adventures, challenges, journeys, far too many early awakenings and yes opportunities to witness the story and tell inspiring and hard-hitting stories that will be. always in my mind. highlight the coil.

‘Speaking of this reel: I’ve watched my family grow up with so many of your own children, and as my oldest son prepares to spread his wings and head to college soon, I also think the time is right. come (before the second half of my life) to spread my own wings and pursue a new adventure. ‘

“I am eternally grateful for the support and the deep friendships that will remain, no matter where our paths lead. I have so much to be grateful for for and for each of you who have helped me get here… muchísimas gracias mis amigos. ‘