Entertainment
Piers Morgan responds as his outburst over Meghan Markle’s Oprah interview breaks Ofcom records
Piers Morgan has responded after more than 57,000 complaints were lodged over his outburst concerning Meghan Markle.
On an episode of Good Morning Britain which aired last week, the former host condemned the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.
He sparked an instant backlash when he said that he ‘didn’t believe’ the Meghan when she said she felt suicidal in the past, and had struggled with her mental health in the spotlight.
Ofcom initially revealed that 41,000 viewers had objected to the scenes, but the TV watchdog has since shared that the total number has risen to 57,121.
Taking to Twitter, Piers shared an article discussing the numbers, telling his followers: ‘Only 57,000? I’ve had more people than that come up & congratulate me in the street for what I said.
‘The vast majority of Britons are right behind me.’
Ofcom also confirmed that Piers’ comments have attracted the highest number of complaints in their history.
A statement from the regulator said: ‘We can confirm that this issue has attracted the highest number of complaints since our reporting began.’
The Life Stories host quit his position on Good Morning Britain last week, with his departure announced just hours after he walked off set during a chat with Alex Beresford.
Piers later addressed the controversy surrounding his comments toward’s Meghan’s mental health, but has not apologised for his words.
‘I still have serious concerns about the veracity of a lot of what she said. But let me just state for the record my position on mental illness and on suicide,’ he said.
‘Mental illness and suicide, these are clearly very serious things and should be taken extremely seriously and if somebody is feeling that way they should get the treatment and help that they need every time and if they belong to an institution like the Royal family and they go and seek that help, they should absolutely be given it.’
‘It’s not for me to question whether she felt suicidal, I wasn’t in her mind and that’s for her to say.’
He also ruled out a surprise return to GMB but has yet to share any news on his next move – with many tipping him for a spot on GB News.
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Harry and Meghan’s Oprah interview: Key moments
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have spoken to Oprah Winfrey in a bombshell interview about their decision to step back as senior working members of the Royal Family.
Here are the key points from the interview, which UK viewers can watch at 9pm on ITV on Monday, March 8.
- Meghan says it was Kate who made her cry over flower girls, not other way round
- Meghan says Harry was told there were ‘concerns how dark’ Archie would be
- Harry and Meghan reveal the gender of their baby due in summer
- Meghan sobs as she says pressures of royal life drove her to the verge of suicide
- Prince Charles stopped taking Harry’s calls after he quit Royal Family
- Harry says Meghan saved him from being ‘trapped’ like Prince Charles and Prince William are
- Princess Diana would be ‘sad and angry about how this has panned out’
- Meghan and Harry share adorable new video of son Archie at the beach
- Harry confirms terrible rift with William and says their relationship is now just ‘space’
- Queen ‘ghosted Harry during Megxit talks and got aide to say she was too busy’
What is Ofcom and what does it cover?
Ofcom is the regulator for the communications services that we use and rely on each day.
The watchdog makes sure people get the best from their broadband, home phone and mobile services, as well as keeping an eye on TV and radio.
Ofcom deals with most content on television, radio and video-on-demand services, including the BBC. However, if your complaint is about something you saw or heard in a BBC programme, you may need to complain to the BBC first.
Its rules for television and radio programmes are set out in the Broadcasting Code.
The rules in the Broadcasting Code also apply to the BBC iPlayer.
This Broadcasting Code is the rule book that broadcasters have to follow and it covers a number of areas, including; protecting the under-18s, protecting audiences from harmful and/or offensive material and ensuring that news, in whatever form, is reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality.
Audiences can complain to Ofcom if they believe a breach of the Broadcasting Code has been made.
Every time Ofcom receives a complaint from a viewer or listener, they assess it to see if it needs further investigation.
If Ofcom decide to investigate, they will include the case in a list of new investigations, published in the Broadcast and On Demand Bulletin.
An investigation is a formal process which can take some time depending on the complexity of the issues involved.
Ofcom can also launch investigations in the absence of a complaint from a viewer or listener.
