Entertainment
Piers Morgan clashes with Dan Walker over Ben Stokes’ mental health break after Simone Biles criticism
Piers and Dan have lashed out at each other yet again (Picture: ITV/Rex)
Piers Morgan and Dan Walker are at each other’s throats once again over Ben Stokes’ withdrawal from cricket for mental health reasons, after the ex-GMB presenter’s criticism of Simone Biles’ exit from the Olympics.
Earlier this week, it was announced that English international cricketer Ben, 30, would be taking an ‘indefinite break’ from cricket to ‘prioritise his mental well-being and to rest his injured finger’.
The chief of the England and Wales Cricket Board praised Ben for his ‘tremendous courage to open up about his feelings and well-being’, stating: ‘Our primary focus has always been and will continue to be the mental health and welfare of all of our people.’
When asked by a Twitter user for his view on Ben’s break from cricket for mental health reasons, Piers tweeted that the decision was also ‘due to a busted finger’, comparing the athlete’s move to Simone by saying that he would have been critical of him ‘if he quit in the middle of a Test match with no physical injury, leaving his teammates in the lurch like Simon Biles did’.
Ben’s announcement came shortly after it emerged that Simone, 24, had stepped down from competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to focus on her mental health, which Piers, 56, heavily criticised amid an outpouring of support for the US gymnast.
In a new tweet, BBC Breakfast presenter Dan, 44, whose rivalry with Piers is well-documented, wrote: ‘Interesting to see if those who were so quick to condemn Simone Biles have anything to say about Ben Stokes.’
Dan expressed his hope to see Dan back in action soon (Picture: Action Images via Reuters)
Simone has received an outpouring of support for her decision at the Olympics (Picture: Loic Venance/AFP via Getty Images)
‘It’s great that so many people are wishing Ben and his family all the best after he announced his indefinite break from cricket. I hope we see them both back soon,’ he added.
While Dan didn’t tag Piers in his tweet, the broadcaster responded by quote-tweeting Dan with a cutting dig, writing: ‘More interesting to see if you get replaced by @LutaloMuhammad as presenter of BBC Olympics coverage next week given how much more popular he seems to be, and of course, far better qualified given he’s an actual Olympian.’
Dan hit back at Piers by showering taekwondo athlete Lutalo Muhammad with praise, tweeting: ‘Lutalo is brilliant, funny, knowledgeable, kind and has a huge future in TV.
‘Everyone loves him and rightly so but, by your baffling logic… because he hasn’t won a gold medal… he’s a failure!’
More: Piers Morgan
In August 2016, Piers controversially tweeted that when it comes to the Olympic Games, ‘gold is all that matters’.
He appeared to reiterate this view earlier this week, writing: ‘Real sporting champions don’t celebrate coming 3rd.’
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