Piers wants his job back, or at least thinks he should be offered it
Piers Morgan has asked if he should get his presenting job back at Good Morning Britain after Ofcom cleared him over the Megan Markle furore that led to him quitting.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex complained to Ofcom after Morgan said he did not believe Markle’s claims, in an Oprah interview in March, that she experienced suicidal thoughts and was given no help by the Palace when she sought help.
Morgan had said he “didn’t believe a word” of what Markle told Oprah.
The broadcasting regulator ruled on Wednesday that Morgan was entitled to share his opinions.
In a column, seemingly timed to coincide with the decision, Morgan concluded: “Just one question remains: does this mean I get my job back?”
Writing about how the Duke and Duchess of Sussex might respond to the decision, Morgan states: “Ironically, I would imagine that word will prompt a very chilly reaction from the self-satisfied Sussexes as they slurp kale smoothies in their California mansion over breakfast this morning.”
He added: “Make no mistake, this is a watershed moment in the battle for free speech.”
Morgan said it was “preposterous that I had to leave a job I loved because I didn’t believe a demonstrable liar”.
“But it happened because the corporate world has been cowed into surrendering to the woke mob whenever it bays for blood.”
Morgan said he was “delighted” by the decision which he called a “resounding victory for free speech”.
Ofcom said that while Morgan’s comments were ‘potentially harmful and offensive’, GMB did not breach the broadcasting code.
Today we’ve concluded our investigation into Piers Morgan’s comments on Good Morning Britain in the wake of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Read our decision and the reasons for it here (pdf) ➡️ https://t.co/bzU8cZ4Saz pic.twitter.com/cc8x7ct7av
— Ofcom (@Ofcom) September 1, 2021
The ruling read: “This was a finely-balanced decision. Mr Morgan’s comments were potentially harmful and offensive to viewers, and we recognise the strong public reaction to them. But we also took full account of freedom of expression. Under our rules, broadcasters can include controversial opinions as part of legitimate debate in the public interest, and the strong challenge to Mr Morgan from other contributors provided important context for viewers.
“Nonetheless, we’ve reminded ITV to take greater care around content discussing mental health and suicide in future. ITV might consider the use of timely warnings or signposting of support services to ensure viewers are properly protected.”
Ofcom’s conclusion in its report stated: “The interview between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Oprah Winfrey contained serious allegations and it was legitimate for this programme to discuss and scrutinise those claims including their veracity. Ofcom is clear that, consistent with freedom of expression, Mr Morgan was entitled to say he disbelieved the Duke and Duchess’s allegations and to hold and express strong views that rigorously challenged their account.
“The Code allows for individuals to express strongly held and robustly argued views, including those that are potentially harmful or highly offensive, and for broadcasters to include these in their programming. The restriction of such views would, in our view, be an unwarranted and chilling restriction on freedom of expression both of the broadcaster and the audience.”
Meghan, 40, was among the 57,000 people who complained to Ofcom about Morgan’s comment.
Within 48 hours of the March 7 Oprah interview, Morgan quit GMB after refusing to apologise for his comments.
Read the full Ofcom ruling here.
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