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Piers Morgan is leaving ITV’s “Good Morning Britain” morning show after receiving backlash Monday over his comments on Meghan Markle.
The news comes shortly after UK broadcaster Ofcom said it was investigating Morgan after more than 41,000 people complained.
“After talking to ITV, Piers Morgan has decided that now is the time to leave Good Morning Britain,” the network said in a statement on Tuesday. “ITV accepted this decision and nothing more to add.”
Just hours earlier, Morgan was called by co-host Alex Beresford on Good Morning Britain for his behavior towards the Duchess of Sussex. Beresford said Morgan has been relentlessly critical of Meghan over the past few years, citing comments Morgan made that challenged Meghan’s truthfulness when she spoke about her suicidal thoughts.
“I understand you don’t like Meghan Markle,” Beresford told Morgan. “You have made it so clear several times in this program. Several times. And I understand that you have or had a personal relationship with Meghan Markle and she cut you off. She has the right to cut you off.” If she wants. Has she said anything about you since she cut you off? I don’t think she did, but you keep breaking her anyway. “
The incident in the air caused Morgan to walk off the set.
Beresford called after him and said the move was “pathetic”.
“This is absolutely diabolical behavior,” added Beresford with Morgan off-camera. “I’m sorry, but Piers spits regularly and we all have to sit there and listen – it was incredibly difficult to see, incredibly difficult to see yesterday, from 6:30 to 7:00.”
Morgan later reappeared on the set and retraced some of his remarks on Meghan. He said it was not his position to question their sanity.
The broadcaster’s recent comments on Meghan relate to an explosive interview she and Prince Harry gave Oprah Winfrey that aired on Sunday in the US and Monday in the UK. More than 17.1 million people in the US have tuned in to the event and more than 12 million viewers have watched the broadcast in the UK, according to ITV Tuesday.
The interview delved into the reasons the couple had decided to leave England and break away from their royal duties. Meghan and Harry brought up what they said was a lack of support Meghan received when she went to the palace about mental health issues, the denial of security protection for the family, and the concerns of some kings about how the skin tone of their son Archie would be if he did it once was born.
Queen Elizabeth said Tuesday that the royal family would address Harry and Meghan’s allegations of racism at Buckingham Palace.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
