Published 10 Mar, 2021 11:42am

Piers Morgan quits Good Morning Britain after saying he doesn't believe Meghan Markle

Piers Morgan, an English broadcaster, journalist, writer, and television personality, has quit ITV breakfast show Good Morning Britain after refusing to believe that Meghan Markle's mental health issues led to her contemplating suicide.

The decision was made public through a statement that read: “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.”

While it was unclear if Morgan was asked to step down or whether the decision was made voluntarily, it was revealed that UK media regulator Ofcom would begin an investigation into the show — declaring it prompted more than 41,000 complaints, making it easily the most complained about programme in a decade. The examination would find out whether Morgan broke broadcasting rules on harm and offence.

The decision came following Oprah Winfrey's interview with Harry and Megan, where they spoke about the harshness of the UK press intrusion, saying it was so acute that Meghan “didn’t want to be alive anymore.”

Reacting to her remarks, Morgan said: “I don’t believe a word she says, Meghan Markle. I wouldn’t believe her if she read me a weather report.”

His comments were met with distaste by his co-presenter Susanna Reid, who rebuked him and called it a "pathetic reaction." While the ex-CNN presenter took his comments back on set the following day, the damage had already been done.

“When we talked about this yesterday, I said an all-encompassing thing I still don’t believe what Meghan Markle says generally in this interview and I have serious concerns about the veracity of a lot of what she said. But let me just state my position on mental illness and on suicide," he began.

“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 that they need every time. Every time. And if they belong to an institution like the royal family they should seek that help and 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.”

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