Piers Morgan slams ‘fake friends’ after GMB exit and calls Sharon Osbourne a ‘true’ pal after she stood by him
PIERS Morgan has slammed his “fake friends” after his explosive exit from Good Morning Britain. Earlier tonight, an ITV insider claimed Piers was “pushed to quit” his job hosting GMB by colleagues that “didn’t like him”. ???? Follow our Piers Morgan live blog for the latest on his GMB exit… And now Piers has praised one of his […]
PIERS Morgan has slammed his “fake friends” after his explosive exit from Good Morning Britain.
Earlier tonight, an ITV insider claimed Piers was “pushed to quit” his job hosting GMB by colleagues that “didn’t like him”.
Follow our Piers Morgan live blog for the latest on his GMB exit…
And now Piers has praised one of his biggest champions – Sharon Osbourne – for being a “true friend”.
“When stuff like this happens, true friends run towards you, fake friends run away,” Piers tweeted tonight.
“I love Sharon Osbourne because she always stays true to herself.
“She knew she would get abused by the woke brigade for tweeting this – but did it anyway because it what she believes.”
He retweeted his former America’s Got Talent co-judge’s message that she posted yesterday as the shock news Piers had quit GMB broke.
Sharon tweeted: “I am with you. I stand by you. People forget that you’re paid for your opinion and that you’re just speaking your truth.”
The 55-year-old stepped down from GMB last night after senior execs wanted him to say sorry on air after Meghan Markle complained to ITV to raise concerns his words might affect those struggling with mental health.
But Piers refused – and quit instead following his heated on-screen clash with his colleague Alex Beresford.
Meghan raised concerns with ITV’s CEO after Piers said he didn’t believe she had suffered suicidal thoughts.
The Duchess is said to have been worried it would affect others struggling with similar issues.
The presenter made a series of dismissive comments about Meghan’s claims she was “suicidal” and suffered issues with her mental health while a royal.
The 39-year-old Duchess told Oprah Winfrey she felt like she “didn’t want to be alive anymore” in her bombshell interview on Sunday.
But on Monday’s Good Morning Britain, Morgan said he “didn’t believe a word” of it.
He then rowed with Alex and stormed off the set – before handing in his notice to bosses hours later.
And it later emerged he was ordered to apologise after bosses were contacted by the Duchess, but refused.
It’s understood Meghan’s complaint wasn’t made over Piers’ dismissal of racism allegations, or her claims that she wasn’t supported by the Royal Family.
ITV’s royal editor Chris Ship said: “The Duchess of Sussex formally filed a complaint to ITV on Monday.
“It’s thought to have been sent to the broadcaster’s CEO.
“Meghan raised concerns about how Piers Morgan’s words affect the issue of mental health and what it might do to others contemplating suicide.”
Despite that, this morning, Piers doubled down on his decision to walk – tweeting: “Freedom of speech is a hill I’m happy to die on.”
And chatting to press outside his home this morning, he called the Duchess “contemptible”, adding he and ITV will “agree to disagree”.
It comes as:
- The TV firebrand yesterday stormed off the show after snapping at Alex “I’m not having this”
- Ofcom received a whopping 41,000 complaints over his handling of Meghan and Harry’s interview with Oprah
- Celebrity pals including Gary Linekar and Sharon Osborne have stood by him
- Susanna Reid paid an emotional tribute to her ‘outspoken and disruptive’ co-star this morning
- Ranvir Singh said the complaints about Piers “had to be taken seriously”
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An ITV spokesperson said: “ITV has accepted this decision and has nothing further to add.”
Piers brought an immediate end to his six-year stint on the show last night when he decided to walk rather than apologise to Meghan.
ITV bought the rights to the Oprah interview for a rumoured £1million and its news anchor Tom Bradby also secured an interview with the couple during their Africa tour in October.