Piers Morgan has said he stands by his criticism of the Duchess of Sussex as ITV’s Good Morning Britain airs for the first time since his departure.
It was announced on Tuesday that Morgan had left the show after saying he “didn’t believe a word” Meghan said in her interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Addressing his exit, co-host Susanna Reid said she had disagreed with his comments, and added: “Shows go on.”
Ranvir Singh, who was sitting in Morgan’s chair on Wednesday, said: “We don’t call him Marmite for nothing.” It is not yet known who will be his permanent replacement on GMB.
In a tweet as the programme was beginning, Morgan 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.”
He added: “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.”
His message was accompanied by a photo of Winston Churchill with a quote about free speech.
On Tuesday, before leaving the show, Morgan stormed off set after a discussion with his colleague Alex Beresford over the duchess.
What else has Piers Morgan said?
Speaking outside his London home on Wednesday, the presenter described his departure as “amicable”, adding: “I had a good chat with ITV and we agreed to disagree.”
He explained: “I believe in freedom of speech, I believe in the right to be allowed to have an opinion. If people want to believe Meghan Markle, that’s entirely their right.
“I don’t believe almost anything that comes out of her mouth and I think the damage she’s done to the British monarchy and to the Queen at a time when Prince Philip is lying in hospital is enormous and frankly contemptible.
“If I have to fall on my sword for expressing an honestly held opinion about Meghan Markle and that diatribe of bilge that she came out with in that interview, so be it.”
He also said: “I think it’s fair to say, although the woke crowd will think that they’ve cancelled me, I think they will be rather disappointed when I re-emerge.”
He described his forthcoming absence from screens as “a temporary hibernation”, adding that he was “always in talks with people” about work. (BBC)
