By Lucy Caulkett-
Television presenter, Piers Morgan, stormed off the set of Good Morning Britain on Tuesday after his co-presenter, Alex Beresford, criticised the way he “continues to trash” the Duchess of Sussex.
Morgan’s co-host, Susanna Reid, felt compelled to call an early break after the row boiled over, and Morgan walked off live on air. Beresford called his behaviour “pathetic” and “diabolical”.
The pair had been discussing the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, which aired in the UK on Monday night.
Presenter, Alex Beresford, criticised the way he “continues to trash” the Duchess of Sussex, especially after the television host said he did not believe Meghan’s account that she suffered mental health issues.
Beresford added: “I’m sorry but Piers spouts off on a regular basis and we all have to sit there and listen, 6.30 to seven o’clock yesterday was incredibly hard to watch, incredibly hard to watch. This is, you know, he has the ability to come in here and talk from a position where he doesn’t fully understand.”
ITV chief executive, Carolyn McCall, said a senior executive at the broadcaster had talked to Morgan about his criticism of Meghan.
Morgan has faced criticism from the mental health charity Mind for his insensitive comments about Meghan Markle.
After, the Duchess of Sussex revealed she considered taking her own life when she was pregnant with her son Archie, Morgan undermined her comments
During Monday’s Good Morning Britain, Piers said he didn’t believe that she had suicidal thoughts.
“Who did you go to? What did they say to you? I’m sorry, I don’t believe a word she says, Meghan Markle,” he said.
Speaking to Oprah, Meghan detailed how her mental health had deteriorated while she was pregnant amid the barrage of negative press and lack of support from the firm, which had repeatedly turned down her appeals for help and discouraged her from leaving the house for months.
Suicidal Thoughts
Meghan disclosed that she had suicidal thoughts during that time and was afraid to be left alone. “It was all happening just because I was breathing,” Meghan said. “I just didn’t want to be alive any more. That was a clear, real, frightening and constant thought.”
In reference to Morgan’s previous claim that he used to speak to Meghan and she “dropped him” once she started dating Harry, Beresford told him: “She’s entitled to cut you off if she wants to … yet you continue to trash her”.
Beresford said: “I understand that you don’t like Meghan Markle, you’ve made it so clear a number of times on this programme, and I understand you’ve got a personal relationship with Meghan Markle and she cut you off. 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, 55, then stormed out of the studio, saying: “OK, I’m done with this, sorry, no, can’t do this.” Beresford called his behaviour “pathetic” and “diabolical”.
He added: “I’m sorry but Piers spouts off on a regular basis and we all have to sit there and listen, 6.30 to seven o’clock yesterday was incredibly hard to watch, incredibly hard to watch. This is, you know, he has the ability to come in here and talk from a position where he doesn’t fully understand.”
Morgan later returned to the set and the discussion of the Sussexes’ interview resumed.
The ITV chief executive, Carolyn McCall, said a senior executive at the broadcaster had talked to Morgan about his criticism of Meghan.
His comments that he did not believe Meghan’s disclosure that she had suicidal thoughts have drawn criticism from the mental health charity Mind, which said it was “concerned and disappointed” by them.
She said ITV had many voices, was committed to supporting mental health and that the company could not control what Morgan said on Twitter. “ITV has many voices and we try and represent many voices on ITV every day,” she said, insisting GMB was “a balanced show”. “It’s not about one opinion.”
McCall added: “I completely believe what she [Meghan] said. It’s important everyone does.”