UPDATED: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have reportedly escalated their concerns about Piers Morgan’s comments on “Good Morning Britain” to U.K. media regulator Ofcom.
Markle had previously complained to ITV CEO Carolyn McCall.
“Meanwhile, am told the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have now followed their complaint to ITV over Good Morning Britain with a complaint to Ofcom,” tweeted Archie Bland of the Guardian on Friday.
Meanwhile, am told the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have now followed their complaint to ITV over Good Morning Britain with a complaint to Ofcom.
— Archie Bland (@archiebland) March 12, 2021
Piers Morgan responded to Bland, saying: “Where do I get to complain about all the shameful lies/smears in their interview & the terrible damage they’ve done to the Queen’s mental health as her 99-yr-old husband spends his fourth week in hospital?”
Where do I get to complain about all the shameful lies/smears in their interview & the terrible damage they've done to the Queen's mental health as her 99-yr-old husband spends his fourth week in hospital? https://t.co/y15IuGcYaW
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) March 12, 2021
Meghan Markle is believed to have filed a formal complaint to ITV over former “Good Morning Britain” presenter Piers Morgan’s comments about her suicide revelations.
Variety understands that Markle wrote to CEO Carolyn McCall on Monday, raising concerns over how Morgan’s words would affect the mental health dialogue in the U.K. and may even impact someone contemplating suicide.
The issue of mental health is paramount for ITV, which needs to be seen as taking the matter seriously following a spate of suicides linked to its hit show “Love Island,” including that of popular host Caroline Flack a year ago.
Both ITV and Markle’s representatives declined to comment on the matter.
Morgan quit the popular morning news program on Tuesday shortly after U.K. media regulator Ofcom opened an investigation into his comments on Monday’s episode. British tabloid The Sun reported that Morgan, a permanent fixture on the program since 2015, exited after ITV bosses asked him to apologize on air and he refused. The broadcaster declined to verify the report.
Responding to Markle and Prince Harry’s bombshell CBS interview, in which Markle revealed to Oprah Winfrey her mental health struggles and suicidal thoughts, a belligerent Morgan cast doubt on Markle’s comments.
“Who did you go to? What did they say to you?” demanded Morgan. “I’m sorry, I don’t believe a word she said, Meghan Markle. I wouldn’t believe it if she read me a weather report.”
Although Morgan later clarified his remarks on “Good Morning Britain,” noting that, “It’s not for me to question if she felt suicidal, I am not in her mind and that is for her to say,” the presenter on Wednesday declared that he’s “had time to reflect on my opinion, and I still don’t [believe Meghan Markle in her Oprah interview].”
Ofcom launched its investigation on Tuesday after more than 41,000 people wrote in to complain about Morgan’s behaviour.
Earlier in the day, on Tuesday’s edition of the program, Morgan stormed off set while “Good Morning Britain” was being broadcast live, following an altercation with weatherman Alex Beresford, who called Morgan’s antics “diabolical.” The host then left, uttering, “Sorry. You can trash me, mate, but not on my own show. See you later.”
The Oprah interview with the couple has sent shockwaves through the U.K., where a peak of 12.3 million viewers tuned into the broadcast on ITV. Buckingham Palace on Tuesday responded to the allegations of racism made in the interview, noting that the “whole family was saddened” to learn the “full extent” of the pair’s trials in the U.K. and the matter will be addressed in private.
