Good Morning Britain addresses Piers Morgan’s abrupt departure after formal complaint from Meghan Markle
Susanna Reid said Good Morning Britain will be ‘very different’ but ‘shows go on’ as she addressed the abrupt departure of her co-host, Piers Morgan (Ian West/PA)
Meghan Markle formally complained to ITV about Piers Morgan before the Good Morning Britain co-host quit, the PA news agency understands.
Morgan left the breakfast show after an on-air row with a colleague who criticised him for “continuing to trash” the duchess, after earlier this week saying he “didn’t believe a word” of Meghan’s Oprah Winfrey interview.
PA understands the duchess’ concern was not about the personal attacks on the validity of her racism allegation made against the royal family, or her claims she was not supported by the institution when experiencing suicidal thoughts.
The complaint is understood to focus on how Morgan’s comments may affect the issue of mental health generally and those attempting to deal with their own problems.
ITV bosses had asked Morgan to apologise to the duchess during Tuesday’s show but he refused, the Telegraph reported.
'I've been in situations where I haven’t called out racism based on how it’s been treated in the past.’
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) March 9, 2021
‘We have to get comfortable talking about the uncomfortable.’@piersmorgan and @alexberesfordTV have a frank discussion over Harry and Meghan’s accusations of racism. pic.twitter.com/p2Y86A7peb
The development follows Buckingham Palace’s statement, saying that the issues raised in Harry and Meghan’s bombshell interview, especially over race, were “concerning” and would be addressed by the Queen and her family privately.
The royal family said it was taking “very seriously” the couple’s shocking allegation that a member of the family – not the Queen or Duke of Edinburgh – raised concerns about how dark their son Archie’s skin tone might be before he was born.
The royals appear to be at odds over the version of some events described by the Sussexes as the statement highlighted how “some recollections may vary”.
But the sympathetic tone of a Buckingham Palace statement suggests a reconciliation through dialogue in private is the aim.
Asked to respond to Buckingham Palace’s statement about the interview, a spokesman for the Sussexes said they would not be commenting any further.
Morgan criticised Meghan as he co-hosted Monday’s Good Morning Britain show, and after a clip aired of the duchess discussing her struggles with mental health and the monarchy’s knowledge of them, he said: “I’m sorry, I don’t believe a word she says.
“I wouldn’t believe her if she read me a weather report.”
Morgan walked off the set on Tuesday after an on-air clash with his colleague, Alex Beresford.
Mind, a leading mental health charity, led the way in criticising Morgan’s comments.
— Mind (@MindCharity) March 8, 2021
It said in a tweet posted earlier this week it was “disappointed and concerned to see Piers Morgan’s comments on not believing Meghan’s experiences about suicidal thoughts”.
The charity added: “It’s vital that, when people reach out for support or share their experiences of ill mental health, they are treated with dignity, respect and empathy.”
Morgan faces an Ofcom investigation after the regulator received 41,000 complaints following his comments on Monday.
Susanna Reid said Good Morning Britain will be “very different” but “shows go on” as she addressed the abrupt departure of her co-host, Piers Morgan.
Morgan left following a backlash against his incendiary comments about the Duchess of Sussex and her headline-making interview with Oprah Winfrey.
ITV announced that the presenter and journalist was leaving the news programme in a brief statement on Tuesday.
Morgan has since said he stands by his comments and does not believe what Meghan told Winfrey, after she discussed her issues with mental health and suicidal thoughts.
Before leaving the show, Morgan had stormed off the set following a heated discussion with his colleague, Alex Beresford, about the duchess.
Reid, opening Wednesday’s programme, addressed her former co-star’s departure and referred to his often divisive presence.
She said: “A number of people will know the news and many of you will not and will be surprised that Piers Morgan is not here this morning.
“Now, Piers and I have disagreed on many things and that dynamic was one of the things viewers loved about the programme.
“He is without doubt an outspoken, challenging, opinionated, disruptive broadcaster.
“He has many critics and he has many fans. You will know that I disagreed with him about Meghan’s interview. He himself clarified his comments about her mental health on the show yesterday.”
Reid said there are “many voices” on Good Morning Britain and “everyone has their say”.
She added: “But now Piers has decided to leave the programme. Some of you may cheer and others may boo.
“He has been my presenting partner, Monday to Wednesday, for more than five years and during Brexit and the pandemic and other issues. He has been a voice for many of you and a voice that many of you have railed against.
“It is certainly going to be very different but shows go on and so on we go.”
Ranvir Singh, Reid’s co-presenter for the morning, responded: “Well said.”
She described Morgan as a “big character” and said “many viewers will be absolutely gutted”.
Singh called Morgan “Marmite” and acknowledged his role in Good Morning Britain’s success.
During the programme, Morgan tweeted, saying he still does not believe what Meghan said in her interview with Winfrey.
He said: “On Monday, I said I didn’t believe Meghan Markle in her Oprah interview. I’ve had time to reflect on this opinion, and I still don’t. If you did, OK. Freedom of speech is a hill I’m happy to die on.
“Thanks for all the love, and hate. I’m off to spend more time with my opinions.”
On Tuesday morning, ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall said the broadcaster’s managing director of media and entertainment, Kevin Lygo, had been in discussion with Morgan in recent days regarding his coverage of the Harry and Meghan interview.
Speaking on a media call following the group’s annual results, which were published on Tuesday, Dame Carolyn insisted Good Morning Britain is a “balanced show”, saying: “ITV has many voices and we try and represent many voices every day. It’s not about one opinion.”
On Morgan’s comments saying he did not believe the Duchess of Sussex, she said: “I completely believe what she (Meghan) said. It’s important everyone does.”
Ofcom also announced on Tuesday that it is investigating comments Morgan made about the interview.
The watchdog received more than 41,000 complaints about his remarks on Monday’s Good Morning Britain.
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