Bring Back Piers Morgan petition signed by millions after Meghan Markle row on GMB

32k

View
comments

Thousands have signed petitions to get Piers Morgan re-instated on Good Morning Britain as ITV shares dived after he was forced to resign when Meghan Markle personally complained that he said he did not believe a word she said.

One, called ‘Bring Back Piers Morgan!‘, accused the channel of treating him ‘appallingly’ and another – titled ‘Keep Piers Morgan on GMB for his common sense approach to life‘ – had more than 95,000 signatures.

And a third, which has been signed by more than 35,000 people, described getting him sacked as ‘an absolute farce’ as viewers lament his loss from the show and vowed to stop watching it from now on.

ITV’s shares plummeted by 4.3 per cent today, despite yesterday’s divisive show beating BBC Breakfast viewing figures for the first time since 2017, reeling in 1.29million viewers.

Experts say the shock departure of the channel’s tough-talking morning host – who helped add a million new viewers in his time on GMB – could have prompted the rapid drop.

Meanwhile campaigners yesterday said they were writing to ITV and Ofcom amid concerns of a ‘chilling effect on free speech’.

They were concerned about the way the broadcaster insisted Mr Morgan apologise for expressing his opinion, saying journalists should be ‘free to express their scepticism’ about statements made by high-profile people without the risk of losing their job.

Toby Young, of The Free Speech Union, expressed fears it looked like ITV was ‘happy to censure’ a journalist ‘at the request of a member of the Royal Family’.

Former BBC presenter Andrew Neil, who is launching new channel GB News, said he wished to talked to Mr Morgan about a role, saying he would be a ‘great asset’.

Meghan wrote to ITV’s boss to complain about Mr Morgan hours before the GMB co-host quit following an on-screen row with weatherman Alex Beresford.

The Duchess of Sussex insists she was not upset that Mr Morgan said he ‘didn’t believe a word she said’ in her Oprah interview – but was worried about how his comments could affect people attempting to deal with their own mental health problems, an insider told the Press Association.

Standing firm today, Mr Morgan told reporters outside his West London home: ‘If I have to fall on my sword for expressing an honestly held opinion about Meghan Markle and that diatribe of bilge that she came out with in that interview, so be it.’   

On Monday Ms Markle went directly to ITV’s CEO Dame Carolyn McCall, the former boss of the left-wing Guardian newspaper, who signed off on the broadcaster’s £1million deal to show the Oprah interview and said yesterday they were ‘dealing with’ the GMB host.   

Mr Morgan is understood to have been ordered to apologise – but he refused and quit instead saying he had the right to tell viewers his ‘honestly held opinions’ and declaring: ‘Freedom of speech is a hill I’m happy to die on’.  

His departure from ITV’s breakfast show, which he helped transform into a ratings hit that beat its BBC rival for the first time yesterday, came amid the fallout from the extraordinary Oprah interview that has caused the Royal Family’s worst crisis since Edward VIII’s abdication in 1936.   

Hours after it was broadcast Mr Morgan branded Meghan ‘Princess Pinocchio’ after the Duchess said she was suicidal while five months pregnant but was denied any help by the palace. She also accused the Royal Family of being concerned Archie’s skin would be too ‘dark’ and denying him the title of prince because he is mixed race, with Mr Morgan demanding the Sussexes back up their claims with evidence.

His views, and his refusal to back down in the row, sparked more than 41,000 complaints made to Ofcom, fuelled by an orchestrated social media campaign spearheaded by his critics including several Labour MPs. But despite Mr Morgan’s years of successful skewering of ministers on the show, which led to a Government boycotts if GMB during the pandemic, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he ‘would miss him’.

The Duchess of Sussex’s decision to intervene in the row came as Mr Morgan doubled down today after leaving GMB, calling Meghan’s incendiary claims to Oprah about the Royal Family ‘contemptible’ and declaring: ‘I don’t believe almost anything that comes out of her mouth’. 

He added: ‘I think the damage she’s done to the British monarchy and to the Queen at a time when Prince Philip is lying in hospital is enormous and frankly contemptible’, before revealing that he left on the day more people watched GMB than its BBC rival, five years after Piers transformed the ITV ratings flop. He tweeted later: ‘Good Morning Britain beat BBC Breakfast in the ratings yesterday for the first time. My work is done’.  

Mr Morgan described his departure from the programme he helped transform into a ratings hit as ‘amicable’, saying: ‘I had a good chat with ITV and we agreed to disagree.’ He added: ‘I’m just going to take it easy and see how we go. I believe in freedom of speech, I believe in the right to be allowed to have an opinion. If people want to believe Meghan Markle, that’s entirely their right’. 

And in a message for his critics he said: ‘I think it’s fair to say, although the woke crowd will think that they’ve cancelled me, I think they will be rather disappointed when I re-emerge. I would call it a temporary hibernation.’ He added that he is ‘always in talks with people’.  

Strictly star Ranvir Singh was in his chair this morning and Susanna Reid admitted it will be a ‘very different’ programme without her co-star of five years and told viewers this morning that he had been a ‘voice for many of you’ through Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic. Lorraine Kelly later paid tribute to her ‘loyal friend’ who is ‘always there if you need him’. 

Just after the show began at 6am this morning he tweeted to his 7.8million followers: ‘On Monday, I said I didn’t believe Meghan Markle in her Oprah interview. I’ve had time to reflect on this opinion, and I still don’t. If you did, OK. Freedom of speech is a hill I’m happy to die on. Thanks for all the love, and hate. I’m off to spend more time with my opinions’.  He also shared a quote by Britain’s greatest prime minister Winston Churchill, which said: ‘Some people’s idea of free speech is that they are free to say what they like but if anyone else says anything back, that is an outrage’. 

The row over Piers Morgan’s GMB departure came as:  

• GMB wins ratings war with BBC Breakfast on Piers Morgan’s last day: ITV’s morning show beat rival for first time with 2.2M peak audience compared to 1.8M; 
• Mr Morgan tells critics leaving GMB is just a ‘temporary hibernation’ amid rumours he will be offered a top job at another broadcaster;
• Mail survey reveals public fury at the Sussexes as majority call for Harry and Meghan to be stripped of titles, believe they said the ‘wrong thing at the wrong time’, do not deserve to be funded and have damaged reputation of entire Royal Family;
• Meghan’s close friends out in force to defend her with Janina Gavankar claiming there are ‘many emails and texts’ that prove the Duchess’ claims the Royal Family and aides knew of her mental health problems; 
• Police pour scorn on Harry and Meghan’s claims Archie’s security was tied to him being a prince and say couple had no right to bodyguards because as private individuals they were no longer under threat;

On an extraordinary day for the show yesterday, Mr Morgan walked off set live on air after the show’s weatherman Alex Beresford accused him of unfairly ‘trashing’ Meghan, branding him ‘diabolical’ and saying: ‘I’m sorry but Piers just spouts off on a regular basis and we have to sit there and listen’. 

Asked what he would say to his Good Morning Britain colleague, Mr Beresford, Mr Morgan said: ‘Good luck to him.’ Mr Beresford was not on screen today, with Laura Tobin presenting the GMB weather this morning. 

Hours later Mr Morgan quit, with his supporters defending his views and claiming his exit is more bad news for free speech and a sad indictment of cancel culture in Britain after critics including Labour MP Dawn Butler encouraged people to complain to ITV and Ofcom. Others have questioned whether GMB’s viewing figures will hold-up without its star, who helped add a million new viewers in his time on the show.

After Ranvir Singh, a GMB reporter and star of Strictly last year, stepped in for Piers today, Susanna then gave a short speech on the tumultuous events of the past 24 hours.

Ms Reid said: ‘A number of people will know the news and many of you will not and will be surprised that Piers Morgan is not here this morning. Now, Piers and I have disagreed on many things and that dynamic was one of the things viewers loved about the programme. 

‘He is without doubt an outspoken, challenging, opinionated, disruptive broadcaster. He has many critics and he has many fans. You will know that I disagreed with him about Meghan’s interview. He himself clarified his comments about her mental health on the show yesterday.’

Reid said there are ‘many voices’ on Good Morning Britain and ‘everyone has their say’. She added: ‘But now Piers has decided to leave the programme. Some of you may cheer and others may boo.

‘He has been my presenting partner, Monday to Wednesday, for more than five years and during Brexit and the pandemic and other issues, he has been a voice for many of you and a voice that many of you have railed against.

‘It is certainly going to be very different but shows go on and so on we go.’

Ranvir Singh, Reid’s co-presenter for the morning, replied: ‘Well said.’ She described Morgan as a ‘big character’ and said ‘many viewers will be absolutely gutted’. Singh called Morgan ‘Marmite’ and acknowledged his role in Good Morning Britain’s success. Ms Singh is amongst the favourites to take the job, but said: ‘I was here anyway, don’t read anything into this, I was here anyway. I’ve shifted seats on this brand new desk’.

It came after 55-year-old Mr Morgan shocked viewers by walking off camera during a heated on-air row with weatherman Alex Beresford, saying ‘I’m done with this’ after being challenged on his position of the Duke and Duchess by his co-star. 

Afterwards ITV CEO Carolyn McCall – who formerly worked for the left-wing Guardian newspaper – said that the broadcaster’s media and entertainment MD Kevin Lygo was speaking to Mr Morgan.

And last night it was announced that Mr Morgan had quit the hugely popular ITV show – which he co-hosted with Susanna Reid.

An ITV spokesman told MailOnline: ‘Following discussions with ITV, Piers Morgan has decided now is the time to leave Good Morning Britain. ITV has accepted this decision and has nothing further to add.’

It is understood Mr Morgan had been asked to apologise for his remarks which had been criticised by mental health campaigners but had declined.

It brings to an end his six-year long association with the breakfast show, which he originally joined as a guest host in 2015, during which time he has made it must-see TV with a strong of exclusives and his strident opinions.

Ironically it came the day after GMB recorded its highest ever viewing figures in the wake of Megan Markle’s blockbuster Oprah Winfrey interview.

It also came on the day that he had followed up with an agenda-setting interview with her father Thomas in which Mr Markle had taken aim at ‘snotty’ Harry, defended the British people and Royals against her claims of racism and revealed that he felt she had betrayed him, not the other way around.

Earlier Morgan, who this evening Tweeted a picture of himself with former manager David Ferriter and the message ‘trust your gut’, also addressed his previous comments regarding the Duchess’s mental health.

Yesterday, he was criticised by the charity, Mind, after saying he ‘didn’t believe a word she said’. I wouldn’t believe it if she read me a weather report,’ he added.  

Piers then addressed these remarks on the show and said: ‘When we talked about this yesterday I said as an all-encompassing thing I don’t believe what Meghan Markle is saying generally in this interview and I still have serious concerns about the veracity of a lot of what she said.

‘But let me just state for the record on my position on mental illness and on suicide.

‘On mental illness and suicide these are clearly extremely serious things and should be taken extremely seriously and if someone is feeling that way they should get the treatment and the help they need every time. 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 if she felt suicidal, I am not in her mind and that is for her to say.

‘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 and 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 is true a) that person should be fired and b) The Royal family have serious questions that need to be answered.’

But it was not enough to stop a wildfire social media campaign against him that resulted in 41,000 complaints to TV watchdog Ofcom by last night who announced they had launched a probe under their ‘harms’ code. 

The campaign featured an avalanche of tweets which criticised the host and supporting Meghan – some sharing direct links to the Ofcom complaints page. Among those launching criticism at Morgan were Labour MP Dawn Butler, who copied in the Twitter page of ITV to her Tweet.

In her social media post, which shared a comment from Mind criticising Morgan’s remarks, she asked: ‘@ITV what have you decided to do?’

Another Twitter user said: ‘It took me about seven minutes to complain to fill in the Ofcom online form to complain about Piers Morgan’s disgusting behaviour on mental health and race issues. It’s not much, but if enough people complain they have to do something!’ 

One Twitter user – who said: ‘I am determined to get Piers off GMB Lolz. Which petitions do I need to sign?’ – received a response with a link to the Ofcom complaints page.

Their decision to act was in stark contrast to what happened with 24,500 people complained about dance troop Diversity’s BLM-inspired routine on Britain’s Got Talent last year when the watchdog refused a probe and said: ‘We carefully considered a large number of complaints about this artistic routine, an area where freedom of expression is particularly important.

‘Diversity’s performance referred to challenging and potentially controversial subjects, and in our view, its central message was a call for social cohesion and unity.

‘Any depictions of violence by the performers were highly stylised and symbolic of recent global events, and there was no explicit reference to any particular political organisation – but rather a message that the lives of black people matter.’

Mr Morgan is also Editor at large for MailOnline and writes a twice weekly column for the website. A spokesman for MailOnline said: ‘This is a very sad day for British free speech and one ITV will come to regret very quickly. We stand by Piers 120%.’ 

While hundreds of Twitter users rejoiced Morgan’s departure – some even claiming the host had ‘cancelled himself – several stars and TV personalities rushed to his defence. It included his own son, Spencer Morgan, who posted a picture of he and his father with the caption ‘Team Piers. Always, forever.’

Regular Good Morning Britain guest India Willoughby was who defended the journalist on Twitter. She said: ‘I think people forget that NOBODY watched breakfast TV before Piers Morgan. On any channel.

‘It was filler while you got ready for work. He and Susanna Reid at TV gold. They made it a must-watch. Massive mistake by ITV. Woke is killing everything.’

Another to speak about Morgan’s departure was Conservative commentator Darren Grimes. He said: ‘I’ve had my fair share of Piers Morgan rows. I don’t agree with him on everything, but this is ITV pandering to cancel culture mob. 

‘Piers Morgan has quite literally penned a book warning against censorship of dissenting views and speech, ITV will be poorer for it.’ 

His former co-host on Britain’s Got Talent, Sharon Osbourne, also jumped to Morgan’s defence. She said: ‘I am with you. I stand by you. People forget that you are paid for your opinion and that you are speaking your truth.’

There was also backing from highly-respected Channel 4 presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy, who said Morgan’s departure would be welcomed among Conservatives. He said: ‘For all you think he gets wrong (which are matters of opinion) few will be more pleased to see Piers Morgan go than ministers who won’t face him anymore.

‘GMB always lost the ratings war to BBC, but was talked about more. Murdoch or GB News will bite his hands off.’ 

However, one Conservative, former MEP David Bannerman, said on Twitter that he backed Morgan and that ITV had made a ‘huge mistake’. 

Meanwhile, American journalist Megyn Kelly, who gave a scathing review of Meghan and Harry’s interview on Good Morning Britain after it had aired in the US, also backed Morgan.

She said: ‘I don’t know what happened with Piers Morgan at GMB. What I do know is he and Susanna have been a brilliant team that took risks and became must-watch TV. 

‘In an era of free speech being stifled everywhere, Piers fearlessly speaks his mind. We need more, not fewer, like that in the media.’ 

And last night the Free Speech Union, a UK-based organisation advocating free speech, also backed the TV host, saying on Twitter: ‘Love him or hate him, no one should lose their job at the behest of a twitter mob.

‘Reports that ITV were insisting he apologise for his remarks about Meghan are deeply concerning. Piers has always defended others’ right to free speech. We should stick up for his.’ 

Earlier, before the announcement was made, Alex Beresford added fuel to his on-going feud with the presenter today as he took aim at those who ‘had the privilege to sit on the fence’ and said no one should ‘pick apart claims of racism.’

He was today publicly backed by GMB’s political producer Anne Alexander, who tweeted: ‘I know the storming off is dramatic etc, but don’t let Alex’s calm and thoughtful words about Harry and Meghan be lost in the drama.And this is a guy who is not a regular presenter taking on one of the most formidable journalists in the country.’ 

She later posted: ‘Well, my WhatsApp is on fire and I’ve not even had breakfast yet. And @alexberesfordTV, I have two proposals of marriage to pass on to you.’ 

Mr Morgan had stormed off the Good Morning Britain set live on air this morning after the show’s weatherman accused him of unfairly ‘trashing’ Meghan Markle. 

Morgan and Beresford had been discussing the Sussexes’ bombshell interview with Oprah, where the couple accused the Royal Family of racism. 

After publicly disagreeing on Twitter in the days leading up to the interview, the pair continued to clash in the studio this morning, with Beresford branding his colleague ‘diabolical’. 

Tensions were evidently rising as Beresford tried to interject while Morgan was discussing the media’s role in promoting the monarchy. 

Morgan said, ‘Well do you mind waiting?’ and Beresford replied ‘Actually I don’t, carry on’ before Morgan let him speak, saying, ‘Up to you mate, I was just going to… fine.’ 

Beresford then joined the debate around the couple’s press coverage, adding: ‘There was bad press around the engagement, before the engagement and everything that has followed since has been incredibly damaging, quite clearly to Meghan’s mental health and also to Harry.’ 

The weatherman, 40, then suggested Morgan, who has previously recalled going to the pub with Meghan ahead of her date with Prince Harry, was upset at being ‘cut off’ by the duchess.  

He added: ‘She’s entitled to cut you off. Has she said anything about you since she cut you off? I don’t think she has. But you continue to trash her’ – at which point Morgan marched off set. 

Susanna Reid was forced to send ITV’s breakfast programme to an early advertisement break after the row between her co-host and Beresford boiled over. 

The GMB host returned to the set after the ad break, and said he and Beresford needed to engage ‘in a civilised manner given that we work at the same show on the same team’.  

He added: ‘You launching into a pretty personally derogatory monologue on one of your colleagues probably isn’t one of the best ways to go about it.’ 

Morgan also went on to address criticism he received yesterday after seemingly casting doubt on Meghan’s claims to have felt suicidal. While doubling down on his ‘serious concerns about the veracity’ of her interview, he stressed mental health ‘should be taken extremely seriously’.  

After the show ended Beresford tweeted what appeared a thinly-veiled dig: ‘I wish I had the privilege to sit on the fence. 

‘In order for me to do that I would have to strip myself of my identity and that’s not something I can do. It’s not any of our places to pick apart claims of racism in order to make us to feel more comfortable.’ 

The fallout of Meghan and Harry’s sit-down with Oprah, that aired to British viewers on ITV last night, continues to dominate the news agenda this morning.

GMB aired a clip of the duke taking aim at the press, which kicked off a debate on the show.

Morgan argued the press performs a dual role of scrutinising the royals but also promoting their activities. 

Beresford countered that most of the coverage of the Sussexes had been negative, before turning to address Morgan directly.  

 ‘I understand that you don’t like Meghan Markle, you’ve made it so clear a number of times on this programme, a number of times,’ he said.

‘I understand you have a personal relationship with Meghan Markle, or had one, and she cut you off. She’s entitled to 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’. 

At this point Morgan, 55, stood up and said: ‘Ok, I’m done with this. Sorry. You can trash me mate but not on my own show. See you later’.  

As the GMB host marched off, Beresford persisted: ‘You know what that’s diabolical behaviour. That’s pathetic.

His colleagues watched in stunned silence as he continued, calling Morgan’s comments in yesterday’s show ‘incredibly hard to watch’.

‘I’m sorry but Piers just spouts off on a regular basis and we have to sit there and listen,’ he said.  

Reid eventually interjected and took the show to an early ad break while tensions cooled. 

On Twitter Morgan fended off suggestions he was a ‘snowflake’ – something he rails against regularly on GMB.

Guido Fawkes, the political blog, tweeted: ‘What a snowflake @piersmorgan turns out to be. If you dish it out, you’ve got to take it.’

Morgan replied: ‘Agreed. I was annoyed, went for a little cool-down, and came back to finish the discussion.’  

He added that it was a ‘strong debate’ and so ‘worth a bit of GMB family tension’, but justifying his exit, said: ‘I just prefer not to sit there listening to colleagues call me diabolical.’ 

After the break, Morgan returned and said: ‘What we need to do Alex is talk to each other in a civilised manner given we work on the same show on the same team. 

‘You launching into a pretty personally derogatory monologue on one of your colleagues probably isn’t one of the best ways to go about it. 

‘As much as I’d like to sit here taking abuse from you, that’s not going to happen.’ 

Beresford shot back: ‘I’m not trying to come on this show and take you down. Just because we’re on the same side we have to have the same view. 

‘This whole situation is very personal for me and I’m by no way, shape or form accusing you of being racist. I have the luxury of knowing you on and off screen and we’ve had conversations, I know where you stand on this and I have a great amount of respect for you, Piers.’ 

Morgan replied: ‘I wanted you on the show today because you sent me a really thoughtful and nuanced message about all this and I thought we could have a thoughtful nuanced conversation’.

Beresford then admitted: ‘I’m tired of finding a different way to explain not to you, but to so many people on why what has been said is so wrong. 

He went on: ‘I’ve walked into institutions as the only person of colour and experienced covert and overt racism on so many occasions and why the Meghan interview really resonates with me is because an ex-work colleague – not on this show – asked me if I was worried about the shade of cocoa that my son was going to come out. 

‘So I fully understand the hurt that is behind all of that.’ 

Morgan insisted he has not got a ‘racist bone’ in his body, saying he would ‘love’ if one of his children brought home someone from a different race. 

Beresford said: ‘I don’t feel that you are a racist… but that’s why I just feel the stance you were taking on it yesterday was so strong I just felt it was slightly clouded because you’ve had an experience with her.’ 

The pair had rowed earlier in the week about the Oprah interview. Beresford tweeted: ‘You ever stop and think maybe you should give this woman carrying a baby a break?’

Morgan then replied: ‘You mean like she’s giving a 94yr-old woman a break as her husband lies in hospital?’ – a reference to the Queen and her husband Prince Philip.  

The pair have locked horns before on air, including a similar debate about the Sussexes in January last year. 

After returning to the set, Morgan also addressed his previous comments regarding the duchess’s mental health.

Yesterday, he was criticised by the charity, Mind, after saying he ‘didn’t believe a word she said’.

‘I wouldn’t believe it if she read me a weather report,’ he added. 

Today he addressed these remarks and said: ‘When we talked about this yesterday I said as an all encompassing thing I don’t believe what Meghan Markle is saying generally in this interview and I still have serious concerns about the veracity of a lot of what she said. But let me just state for the record on my position on mental illness and on suicide.

‘On mental illness and suicide these are clearly extremely serious things and should be taken extremely seriously and if someone is feeling that way they should get the treatment and the help they need every time.

‘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 if she felt suicidal, I am not in her mind and that is for her to say.

‘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 and 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 is true a) that person should be fired and b) The Royal family have serious questions that need to be answered.’

Several social media users voiced their views of the morning drama. 

One said: ‘I feel there as always been conflict with Alex and Piers, especially when comes to racism topics, and Alex had opportunity to tell it as it is. 

‘But Piers wasn’t expecting that. He doesn’t like hearing the truth about himself.’

A third said: ‘Well that was the most dramatic opening 15 mins of any GMB show I’ve seen… 

‘To be fair, I think Alex was overly critical of [Piers Morgan], who for me has only ever offered a balanced argument of the Sussexes’ ”faults”. ‘ 

Although Beresford mostly presents the weather, he is sometimes invited to participate in discussions, and has done so previously for debates on knife crime and Black Lives Matter. 

He first rose to prominence after interjecting in a discussion about knife crime – days before his cousin was tragically stabbed to death. 

Nathaniel Armstrong, 29, was killed in Fulham, west London, on March 16, 2019.

Beresford said at the time: ‘No-one would have expected it, especially after I spoke out. You couldn’t make it up.’

Eleven days earlier Beresford intervened in a GMB debate with John Apter, chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, shouting across the studio from the weather booth that ‘prison doesn’t work’.

He was also vocal during last summer’s Black Lives Matter protests.

The TV star, who was born to a white English mother and black Guyanese father, spoke of his own experiences with racism, dating back to when he was first called the N-word at just 11 years old while growing up in his hometown of Bristol. 

Beresford tweeted after the show: ‘I wish I had the privilege to sit on the fence. In order for me to do that I would have to strip myself of my identity and that’s not something I can do. It’s not any of our places to pick apart claims of racism in order to make us to feel more comfortable.’

Meghan Markle’s friend Janina Gavankar claims she and Harry have ’emails and texts to support’ their bombshell Oprah claims – but denies she is ‘talking for the couple’ 

Meghan Markle’s close friend Janina Gavankar revealed today that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have emails and text messages about her bombshell claims.

The actress said she spoke to the pair regularly and they would now be focusing on ‘humanitarian and environmental work’ following their Oprah Winfrey interview.

Gavanker said she watched the interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex which aired on CBS on Sunday, adding: ‘I don’t speak for them, I speak for myself.’ 

In her interview with Winfrey, Meghan said she had been suicidal while in the royal family but claimed she received no help after speaking about her suffering.

The Duchess and Prince Harry also alleged that a fellow unnamed royal had been worried about how dark their son Archie’s skin tone might be before he was born. 

Buckingham Palace said last night that the issues raised, especially over race, were ‘concerning’ and would be addressed by the Queen and her family privately. 

Gavanker, 40, who has been friends with Meghan for 17 years, told ITV’s This Morning today: ‘After reading this short statement that came out from Buckingham Palace today, I felt two things.

‘One side, I thought: I am so thankful that they are finally acknowledging the experience.

‘But on the other side, I am well aware that the family and the staff were well aware of the extent of it, and though their recollections may vary, ours don’t, because we lived through it with them. There are many emails and texts to support that.’

Gavankar, who attended the 2018 Royal Wedding and took the couple’s 2019 Christmas card photo, dismissed allegations of bullying after a number of claims were made against Meghan.

‘I have known her for 17 years and I have seen the way she regards the people around her and the people she works with, and I can say she is not a bully,’ the actress said. 

‘But I can also say that I am personally glad people are doing their due diligence because I also know why someone had to leave, and it was for gross misconduct.

‘The truth will come out, there are plenty of emails and texts about that.’ 

It follows Buckingham Palace’s statement issued last night, saying that the issues raised in Harry and Meghan’s bombshell interview, especially over race, were ‘concerning’ and would be addressed by the Queen and her family privately.

The Royal Family said it was taking ‘very seriously’ the couple’s shocking allegation that a member of the family – not the Queen or Duke of Edinburgh – raised concerns about how dark their son Archie’s skin tone might be before he was born.

On This Morning, Gavankar was also asked by presenter Phillip Schofield if she had spoken to Meghan about coming onto the show.  

She replied: ‘Oh yes, absolutely, I talk to them of all the time, we watched the special together, actually. We’re all happy that we are in a new era, we get to tell the truth.’

Gavankar added: Things are different now. But I will say I don’t speak for them, I speak for myself.’

The actress, who is best known for her roles in Ben Affleck movie The Way Back and Apple TV’s The Morning Show, added of the Sussexes: ‘I think they are feeling free. 

‘It is nice to see them feel free. Now they can get back to what they really were focused on and how they really met and fell in love, that was through humanitarian and environmental work, they have Archewell.

‘They have been doing that kind of work way before they met each other and now they can do it together. It is actually a really good time.’

Meanwhile it was reported today that the Duchess of Sussex formally complained to ITV about Piers Morgan before the Good Morning Britain co-host quit.

Morgan left the breakfast show after an on-air row with a colleague who criticised him for ‘continuing to trash’ the duchess, after earlier this week saying he ‘didn’t believe a word’ of Meghan’s Oprah interview.  

 

The stars backing or trashing Piers Morgan: Megyn Kelly, Sharon Osbourne and Gary Lineker lead support for ex-GMB host over his Meghan stance… as Wokerati gush with predictable joy at his exit

Piers Morgan has left the celebrity world divided following his abrupt departure from Good Morning Britain, with various stars coming out to support or criticise him.

The 55-year-old presenter left the ITV morning show following a backlash against his comments about Meghan Markle and her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Morgan quit GMB yesterday after telling viewers he ‘didn’t believe a word’ Meghan said to Oprah and branded her ‘Princess Pinocchio’ after an interview which saw the Duchess of Sussex say she was suicidal and accused the Royal Family of racism.  

Among the celebrities who have backed Morgan are BBC Match of the Day football host Gary Lineker and his former Britain’s Got Talent fellow judge Sharon Osbourne.

Others included former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, ex-England cricketers Kevin Pietersen and Monty Panesar, and Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy.

But there have also been stars glad about his exit, including Morgan’s long-time BBC Breakfast rival Dan Walker, while actor John Cleese said he ‘should be in jail’.

Others celebrating his exit were broadcaster Jameela Jamil, who claimed Morgan had made her contemplate suicide last year, and Irish singing duo Jedward.

Among Morgan’s backers were Lineker, who tweeted: ‘Whether it’s a football manager, a television presenter or any profession for that matter, it’s always sad when someone loses their job.

‘Piers Morgan is excellent at what he does and I’m sure he’ll be back on the telly soon.’ 

Lineker later added: ‘I disagree with much of what Piers Morgan says, including his bizarre, obsessive rants at Harry and Meghan. 

‘I also agree with some of what he says. The same as with most people I know. Everything’s so tribal these days. You seemingly have to pick a side on absolutely everything.’ 

And Osbourne added: ‘Piers Morgan, I am with you. I stand by you. People forget that you’re paid for your opinion and that you’re just speaking your truth.’

Kelly, who was interviewed by Morgan on Monday about the Duchess’s interview, said: ‘I don’t know what happened with Piers Morgan at GMB. 

‘What I do know is he and Susanna (Reid) have been a brilliant team that took risks and became must-watch TV. In an era of free speech being stifled everywhere, Piers fearlessly speaks his mind. We need more, not fewer like that in media.’ 

Morgan is known to be a big cricket fan, and he also found support from former stars of the sport, including Pietersen who said: ‘I know Piers Morgan away from TV and Twitter.

‘He’s a f***ing legend, who is loyal, funny, caring and so much fun to be around! Hope you’re OK, buddy!’

And Panesar added: ‘Gutted to know Piers Morgan has left Good Morning Britain. 

‘To create debates,discussions get viewers to interact is a skill top TV presenters should have and Piers has that in abundance. He did a fantastic job during Covid 19. I’m sure we see him on TV soon.’

There was also backing from Guru-Murthy, who said Morgan’s departure would be welcomed among members of the Conservative Party.

He tweeted: ‘For all you think he gets wrong (which are matters of opinion) few will be more pleased to see Piers Morgan go than Ministers who won’t face him anymore.

‘GMB always lost the ratings war to BBC, but was talked about more. Murdoch or GB News will bite his hands off.’ But on the other side of the debate, Jamil celebrated Morgan’s departure in a series of tweets and said she almost committed a suicide a year ago because of him.  

She tweeted: ‘May we NEVER have to watch minorities have to go on mainstream news and have to *defend* their right to be treated with dignity and respect… ever again. All while being screamed over by this man.’

Jamil added: ‘I almost killed myself a year ago because of Piers Morgan’s relentless campaign of lies and hatred against me last February. I’m glad I’m still alive today for many reasons.’

It comes after they had a row last February when Morgan released old messages sent to him by late Love Island host Caroline Flack, who confided she was ‘struggling’ with Jamil ‘aiming hate’ at her. 

Another celebrity pleased to see the back of Morgan was his long-time breakfast show rival Walker, who tweeted last night: ‘Sorry to hear the news about your departure from GMB, Piers Morgan.

‘If you’d like to come on the UK’s number one breakfast show to talk about it… we could make some space for you in the morning.’

Walker then added this morning: ‘To all the shouty, sweary people telling me I’m nothing like you know who… thank you.

‘If you want a programme happy to exploit issues like mental health to create controversy, division and clicks, I’m delighted to say… you’re in the wrong place.’ 

Also tweeting about Morgan was Cleese, who wrote before his departure: ‘I see that Piers Morgan has ‘serious concerns about Meghan’s veracity’. I have serious concerns about Piers Morgan. 

‘I believe he should be in jail, not hosting morning TV. I have serious concerns about Morgan’s veracity. Could he please sue me?’

Jedward were also delighted, saying: ‘We’ve turned down multiple appearances on Good Morning Britain cuz of that dope! And now the future is JEPIC!’

They added last night: ‘Tomorrow will definitely be a Good Morning Britain! Bye, Piers Morgan.’

Jedward also referred to Osbourne’s tweet, saying: ‘We aren’t with you. We don’t stand with you. It’s a NO from us! Sorry you aren’t going to bootcamp!’

The duo previously clashed with Morgan last September over JK Rowling’s comments on transgender issues, saying her new book was ‘perfect to burn next to a romantic fire’ – before Morgan hit back, joking that he would rather burn ‘your entire musical back catalogue’.

Referring to the 41,000 complaints to Ofcom over Morgan’s comments on Meghan, CNN anchor Jake Tapper said: ‘This is what happens when you live in a country where there is no First Amendment.’

But BBC News presenter Huw Edwards hit back, saying: ‘Jake — cmon — regulation is necessary or we end up with the kind of twisted c**p so popular in the US.’