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Piers Morgan quits breakfast show after regulator receives 41,000 complaints over Meghan criticism

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Piers Morgan, breakfast show, Meghan criticism, Prince Harry, Good Morning Britain, Alex Beresford, Oprah Winfrey, Tiffany Connor, Jameela Jamil, Duchess of Sussex



Ace broadcaster Piers Morgan is leaving ITV’s “Good Morning Britain” following complaints regarding his scathing comments about Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex.

The Arsenal fanatic’s constant attacks on Meghan had prompted a backlash and an investigation from the United Kingdom’s media regulator.

The United Kingdom’s Office of Communications announced that it was investigating the show’s Monday episode under its “harm and offence rules.”

NBC News reported that the communication office received 41,015 complaints about Morgan’s scathing remark on Meghan and Prince Harry’s interview with Oprah Winfrey.

ITV, the British free-to-air television network with headquarters in London disclosed on Tuesday that, following discussions, Morgan had decided to leave the program.

“ITV has accepted this decision and has nothing further to add,” the statement said.

In a tweet posted hours after the ITV announcement, Morgan made a remark on the social media app which subtly suggested his imminent departure.

“Thinking of my late, great manager John Ferriter tonight,” Morgan said. “He’d have told me to do exactly the same thing.”

“Thinking of my late, great manager John Ferriter tonight. He’d have told me to do

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) March 9, 2021

Morgan, who has been notably critical of Meghan, on Monday said he was “sickened” by the couple’s interview and called it a “trash-a-thon” of the monarchy. He criticized Meghan and Harry for dropping a “race bombshell” regarding an alleged conversation in which a family member questioned how “dark” their children’s skin would be.

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He also implied that he didn’t believe Meghan when she described having suicidal thoughts.

Earlier in the day, Morgan walked off the show set after he was taken-on by a co-host for his criticism of Prince Harry and Meghan following their blockbuster interview with Oprah Winfrey.

During the interview with Oprah, Meghan had said she “didn’t want to be alive anymore” and had contemplated suicide while pregnant with her son Archie. She disclosed that an undisclosed member of the royal family had told her she couldn’t seek help because “it wouldn’t be good for the institution.”

On Monday’s edition of “Good Morning Britain,” Morgan questioned whether the Duchess was being truthful about having suicidal thoughts. His comments sparked a huge controversy in Britain, and he was rebuked by mental health charity Mind.

On Tuesday, fellow ITV presenter Alex Beresford confronted Morgan about his commentary on Meghan over the years and called Monday’s episode “hard to watch.” Morgan walked off the “Good Morning Britain” set as Beresford condemned him.

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“I understand that you’ve got a personal relationship with Meghan Markle, or had one, and she cut you off,” Beresford said. “She’s entitled to cut you off if she wants to. Has she said anything about you since she cut you off? I don’t think she has, but yet you continue to trash her.”

Morgan got up from his seat, telling Beresford, “You can trash me mate, but not on my own show.”

The conversation continued after the show went to break, with Morgan returning to his seat. Morgan clarified that he “did not know her that well” regarding this prior relationship with Meghan.

“All it did was inform me that she has a bit of streak in her where she cuts people out of her life and moves on,” Morgan said. “That’s fine, she’s entitled to do that, but she’s done it to her whole family apart from her mum. We’ve got her dad coming on now, he’s been disowned, she’s got a track record of it, which I just find is informative about her personality.”

Meanwhile, actress Tiffany Connor has reported that she filed one of the 41,000 complaints after seeing Morgan’s comments on Meghan’s mental health from Monday’s show.

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In her complaint, which she shared with NBC News, Connor wrote that Morgan’s comments “perpetuates the stigma” of mental illness and is in direct conflict with ITV’s campaign to promote mental health conversations.

Connor is training to become a cognitive behavioral therapist and works with the U.K.’s National Health Service. She also said she is a survivor of suicide and bullying.

“I guess I felt a duty with what I’ve lived through but also see every day at work to protect others and to support people who are and have been like me,” Connor said. “I believe that people can have the power in numbers to make positive change.”

In a similar fashion, actor Jameela Jamil also expressed happiness on Tuesday at the news of Morgan’s departure from “Good Morning Britain.”

The “The Good Place” star had a public fight with Morgan last year on Twitter following the death of “Love Island” host Caroline Flack, who died by suicide.

“I almost killed myself a year ago because of Piers Morgan’s relentless campaign of lies and hatred against me last February,” Jamil said. “I’m glad I’m still alive today for many reasons.”

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