Dermot O’Leary stresses ’empathy is only correct response’ to Meghan Markle after Piers Morgan refuses to believe suicidal remarks

 

Dermot O’Leary has stressed that ’empathy is the only correct response’ to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s interview, after Piers Morgan said he didn’t believe the Duchess of Sussex when she said she was suicidal.

The This Morning host spoke to his co-star Alison Hammond about the interview, after an ’emotional week.’

He pointed out: ‘Empathy is the word that you take away from it.’

Alison went on to say she thought it was ‘a lovely interview,’ saying that her ‘mouth was on the floor the whole way through.’

However, when the discussion turned to Meghan’s mental health, the pair agreed that it’s important to take her seriously.

‘I think it’s okay to watch it and to have questions, it’s okay to ask why they chose to do it, it’s okay to want clarification on some of the accusations, but if someone says “I feel suicidal,”‘ Dermot, 47, began, with Alison, 46, adding: ‘You’ve got to take that seriously.’

‘Absolutely, the only correct human response to that is an empathetic one isn’t it?’ Dermot continued.

The pair’s comments come after Piers quit Good Morning Britain after getting 41,000 Ofcom complaints about his comments on Meghan’s mental health.

He claimed that he didn’t believe her, following her and Prince Harry’s interview with Oprah Winfrey.

The 55-year-old later clarified his comments on mental health, saying: ‘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.’ 

Doubling down on his previous criticism, Piers explained: ‘My real concern was a disbelief frankly and I’m prepared to be proven wrong on this and if I’m wrong, it is a scandal, that she went to a senior member of the Royal household, told them she was suicidal and was told she could not have any help because it would be a bad look for the family. 

‘If that was true, A: If they’re still there they should be fired; B: the Royal family has serious questions to be answered about how they handled it.

This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV.

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