Piers Morgan’s Meghan Markle rant and Alex Beresford row receives most Ofcom complaints EVER with 57,121 objections
PIERS Morgan’s Meghan Markle rant has now received the most Ofcom complaints ever after the TV host sensationally quit Good Morning Britain.
Morgan, who had been on the ITV show since 2015, stormed off the set last week after becoming engaged in a row with co-star Alex Beresford.
Follow our Piers Morgan live blog for the latest on his GMB exit…
His rant during the show on March 8 has now received 57,121 Ofcom complaints – the most ever.
He quit GMB rather than say sorry on air following complaints over his dismissal of the Duchess of Sussex‘s admissions during a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Meghan complained to ITV and Ofcom about Morgan’s comments to raise concerns his words might affect those struggling with mental health.
Morgan told viewers he “didn’t believe a word” of Meghan and Prince Harry’s interview, in which the duchess said she “didn’t want to be alive” after receiving heavy public scrutiny.
He said “Who did you go to? What did they say to you?
“I don’t believe a word she says, Meghan Markle. I wouldn’t believe a weather report if she read it.
“The fact she has expressed an onslaught against our Royal Family is contemptible.”
It comes as:
- Meghan and Harry sparked Palace fury after details of private peace talks with Charles and William were leaked to a prime-time US TV show
- The Palace is “refusing to give a running commentary on private conversations” after the talks were leaked
- Morgan has claimed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are running a “deliberate and malicious campaign” to smear the Royal Family
- Prince Philip’s iron will was saluted yesterday as he returned home to the Queen following his longest hospital stay
- Good Morning Britain’s Ranvir Singh has branded Meghan and Harry as “mean-spirited” for “leaking” private conversations with the Royal Family
Ofcom received 41,015 complaints about Morgan’s comments last week, sparking an investigation.
An Ofcom spokesperson said: “We have launched an investigation into Monday’s episode of Good Morning Britain under our harm and offence rules.”
Less than an hour later, ITV announced Piers Morgan wouldn’t be returning to the show.
ITV said in a statement: “Following discussions with ITV, Piers Morgan has decided now is the time to leave Good Morning Britain.
“ITV has accepted this decision and has nothing further to add.”
Previously, the most complained about segment was the Celebrity Big Brother racism row involving Jade Goody and Shilpa Shetty in 2007, which attracted 44,500.
It is also almost double the number received in response to Diversity’s Black Lives Matter performance on Britain’s Got Talent in October last year.
The dance routine – which saw a police officer kneeling on Ashley Banjo – received 24,500 complaints, making it the most complained about show in 2020.
Morgan was ordered to apologise after ITV 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. It’s thought to have been sent to the broadcaster’s CEO.
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“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, he called the Duchess “contemptible”, adding he and ITV will “agree to disagree”.