Journalist and TV presenter Piers Morgan left his much-publicized breakfast slot with broadcaster ITV on Tuesday after his long-standing criticism of Prince Harry’s wife Meghan reached a crescendo on the couple interview with Oprah Winfrey.
ITV confirmed the departure in a terse statement.
Morgan, 55, a former CNN presenter, accused the couple of damaging the royals and seeking publicity on their own terms without accepting the responsibility and control that come with their position.
Morgan dubbed Meghan “Princess Pinocchio” in a tweet, and said Monday he “didn’t believe a word she said” in the interview.
Meghan had accused the royal family of pushing her to the brink of suicide and said someone in the royal household raised questions about her son’s skin color – allegations which raised questions about the future of the monarchy.
Morgan’s comments sparked more than 41,000 complaints with the UK media regulator, which announced an investigation under its “harm and tort” rules.
Morgan, a prolific tweeter with 7.7 million subscribers on the platform, released a clock shortly before ITV’s statement.
Carolyn McCall, ITV’s chief executive, had said earlier that she believed Meghan “completely”.
VERACITY
Morgan qualified his original comments on Tuesday, saying:
“I still have serious concerns about the veracity of much of what she (Meghan) has said, but let me say for the record of my position on mental illness and suicide.
The couple have made some revelations about their heartbreaking experience in the UK. (Photo: Instagram / @ oprah)
“They should be taken very seriously and if anyone feels that way, they should get the treatment and help they need every time, and if they belong to an institution like the Royal Family and who ‘they are going to seek this help, they should absolutely receive. he.”
Morgan joined ITV six years ago, bringing unrestricted questioning to UK television for breakfast.
Government ministers, celebrities and royals all felt the whip of his tongue.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he has repeatedly called on the government to explain why Britain has one of the highest death rates in the world. Ministers boycotted the show for months.
Such is his influence that many newspapers write daily stories about his Tweets and comments.
Morgan made a name for himself in the die-hard world of the British popular press, the “tabloids”, becoming the youngest editor-in-chief at age 28 when Rupert Murdoch appointed him to the News of the World. He then headed the Daily Mirror.
Morgan then moved on to television, appearing as a judge on America’s Got Talent and Britain’s Got Talent reality shows, and spent three years hosting a poorly-received talk show on CNN, replacing Larry King.