Piers Morgan has reiterated his stance on the Duchess of Sussex, stating he still does not believe her claims from the Oprah Winfrey interview, following his departure from ITV’s Good Morning Britain. The presenter left the show on Tuesday after a row with colleague Alex Beresford and after ITV’s chief executive expressed belief in Meghan’s account of suicidal feelings.
Ofcom is investigating Morgan’s comments after receiving over 41,000 complaints. Reports also suggest that the Duchess formally complained to ITV about Morgan’s remarks. ITV News royal editor Chris Ship tweeted that Meghan raised concerns about the impact of Morgan’s words on mental health and suicide contemplation, though the Sussexes and ITV have not confirmed the complaint.
On Wednesday, Morgan tweeted: “I’ve had time to reflect on this opinion, and I still don’t [believe Meghan].” He added that freedom of speech is a “hill I’m happy to die on”. Speaking outside his London home, he described his departure as “amicable” and said he and ITV “agreed to disagree”. He criticised the duchess for damaging the monarchy and the Queen while Prince Philip is in hospital.
Despite his exit, Morgan said he expects the “woke crowd” will be disappointed as he plans to re-emerge after a “temporary hibernation”. ITV confirmed that his Life Stories series finale with Coleen Nolan will air as scheduled. Good Morning Britain co-presenter Ranvir Singh filled in and noted that Morgan had been a divisive figure, but acknowledged his impact on viewing figures and his role during the pandemic.
Morgan’s long-time co-host Susanna Reid began Wednesday’s show by informing viewers of his departure, saying they disagreed on Meghan’s interview but that the dynamic was part of the programme’s appeal. She said Morgan has many critics and many fans, and that the show will continue without him.
