Leading figures in American media have shown their support for British television presenter Piers Morgan, after he left his high-profile breakfast slot with the broadcaster ITV on Tuesday, following his strident criticism of Meghan Markle.
Jake Tapper, the CNN anchor, and Megyn Kelly, former Fox News anchor, praised Morgan and said he had been treated unfairly.
Morgan, 55, a former presenter on CNN and Mailonline editor at large, has accused the couple of damaging the royal family and seeking publicity on their own terms without accepting the responsibility and scrutiny that come with their position.
Morgan dubbed Meghan ‘Princess Pinocchio’ in a tweet, and said on Monday that he did not ‘believe a word she said’ in her and Harry’s interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Morgan, the host of Good Morning Britain, has been fiercely critical of the Sussexes for years
Morgan on Tuesday clashed with his co-host, Alex Beresford (pictured) and then stormed off
Morgan left the set of Good Morning Britain following his heated argument with Beresford
In the two-hour discussion, broadcast in the United States on Sunday and in the U.K. on Monday, Meghan spoke of feeling suicidal, and turning to the Palace for help, but being rebuffed.
She told Winfrey that she felt incredibly lonely and isolated, and had insufficient support from the royal family.
Prince Harry said that racism had played a large part in forcing them from the U.K. and said he and his father stopped speaking for some time. Asked about his relationship with his brother, Harry said it was ‘space’.
On Tuesday, Morgan had a heated argument with co-host Alex Beresford, which ended with Morgan storming off the set.
Meghan had accused the royal family of pushing her to the brink of suicide and said someone in the royal household had raised questions about the color of her son’s skin – allegations that have prompted questions about the future of the monarchy.
Morgan’s comments triggered more than 41,000 complaints to Britain’s media regulator, Ofcom, which announced an investigation under its ‘harm and offence’ rules.
Jake Tapper, CNN anchor, said the Ofcom investigation into Morgan was ‘insanity’
Kelly appeared on Morgan’s show with Susanna Reid to discuss the Oprah Winfrey interview
Sharon Osbourne, a long-term friend of Morgan’s, tweeted her support for the presenter
Tapper described the Ofcom investigation as ‘insanity’.
‘This is what happens when you live in a country where there is no First amendment. Insanity,’ he said, linking to a Variety article entitled: ‘U.K. media regulator Ofcom launched an investigation after more than 41,000 people complained about Piers Morgan’s comments on Meghan Markle.’
When Tapper was attacked by critics of Morgan, he concluded: ‘OK, British friends. We disagree.’
Kelly also sprung to Morgan’s defense, tweeting: ‘I don’t know what happened w/ @piersmorgan at GMB.
‘What I do know is he & Susannah have been a brilliant team that took risks & 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.’
Sharon Osbourne tweeted: ‘@piersmorgan 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.’
Morgan, a prolific tweeter who has 7.7 million followers on the platform, posted a ticking clock shortly before ITV’s statement confirming his departure. It was retweeted by Kelly.
Carolyn McCall, the chief executive of ITV, had said earlier that she believed Meghan ‘completely’.
Morgan did qualify his original comments on Tuesday, saying: ‘I still have serious concerns about the veracity of a lot of what she (Meghan) said, but let me just state for the record about my position on mental illness and on suicide.
‘They should be taken extremely seriously and if someone 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.’
Morgan and his co-host, Susanna Reid, have helmed the show for the past six years
Morgan joined ITV six years ago, bringing no-holds-barred interrogation to British breakfast television.
Government ministers, celebrities and members of the royal family have all felt the lash of his tongue.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he has pressed the government repeatedly 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 on his Tweets and comments.
Morgan made his name in the cut-throat world of the British popular press, becoming the youngest editor of a title at 28 when Rupert Murdoch appointed him at the News of the World. He later ran the Daily Mirror.
Morgan later moved into television, appearing as a judge on the reality shows America’s Got Talent and Britain’s Got Talent, and spent three years hosting a poorly received chat show on CNN, replacing Larry King.