Love or hate him, Piers Morgan certainly had a knack of dividing a nation.
Never one to shy away from courting controversy or to speak his mind, the former GMB host will be remembered for all the wrong reasons as Daily Star takes a look back at some of his controversial moments.
From being criticised for sexism in the workplace, accusations of racism towards Chinese people or even, bizarrely, picking a fight with a London aquarium for raising a gender-neutral penguin, Piers has certainly had no problems making the headlines.
We’re sure our readers and his 7.7million Twitter followers will have plenty to say on these moments! British watchdog Ofcom certainly have!
Meghan Markle suicide comments
Piers landed himself in hot water for his comments about Meghan Markle (Image: Courtesy of Harpo Productions/CBS)
Piers has sensationally quit GMB after saying he did not believe Meghan Markle’s mental health issues led to her contemplating suicide.
The show attracted more than 41,000 complaints from UK media regulator Ofcom for his remarks.
That unprecedented response made GMB the most complained about program in a decade.
Meghan revealed in her CBS interview with Oprah Winfrey that she “didn’t want to be alive anymore”.
But Piers landed himself in hot water and received a huge backlash of criticism by offering: “I don’t believe a word she says, Meghan Markle. I wouldn’t believe her if she read me a weather report.”
Respected mental health charity Mind criticised the presenter and in a statement said they were “disappointed” with his controversial remarks.
Sexism accusations
Piers was never afraid to be outspoken alongside co-host Susanna Reid (Image: ITV)
Piers came under fire for blatantly ogling at meteorologist Laura Tobin’s trousers.
Laura, 38, looked uncomfortable as Piers repeatedly drew attention to her tight red trousers while she was working on the show.
“When a female presenter parades herself in skin-tight leather trousers to do the weather, you are going to get people going ‘wow’, he said in January last year.
Laura quipped back that her trousers were not made of leather, and they were “sustainable trousers”.
“They’re certainly sustaining me”, replied Piers.
Racism row
BBC presenter Dan Walker mocked Piers for his comments about Meghan Markle (Image: ITV)
The controversial TV host was accused of racism in the same month and subject to more than 1,600 Ofcom complaints for comments relating to a Chinese dairy advert.
Morgan said “He’s using ching chong ching milk” and was accused of unnecessarily insulting Chinese people and mocking the Chinese language.
The controversy erupted following a discussion about Peter Phillips, the Queen’s grandson, who starred in a TV advert for Chinese state milk.
Morgan’s also referred to the milk as “yeng yeng dong dong yong ming ming milk milk” to which flustered co-presenter Susanna Reid retorted: “Taking the mickey out of foreign languages is rather 1970. Piers, do you not realise the kind of woke times we’re living in?”
GMB weather man Alex Beresford called Piers out on his controversial comments (Image: ITV)
Broadcaster ITV was warned for risking breaching the broadcasting code and in a statement they said: “ITV regrets any offence Piers’ comments many have unintentionally have caused.”
Morgan hit back himself as he stressed on Twitter: “I was mocking a member of the British royal family appearing in an advert for Chinese state milk, not Chinese people.”
Ex-England and Liverpool footballer John Barnes was just one of many people offended by Morgan’s comments.
“Just saw @piersmorgan on GMB mocking Chinese people on the way they speak, what are the odds he faces no criticism for it….there’s an example for Laurence Fox of white privilege.”
Gender neutral penguin rant
Piers cut a frustrated figure in the GMB studio (Image: ITV)
He also bizarrely picked a fight with a London aquarium in September 2019 for raising a gender neutral penguin.
He went on a furious rant after the aquarium fails to assign a gender to a Gentoo penguin.
Holding up his hands, an animated Morgan declared: “I’m a penguin. I’m identifying as a two- spirit penguin. Everyone happy with that?”
Piers’ wife accused Meghan of acting in Oprah Winfrey interview (Image: Getty Images)
Angry Piers then insisted he was going to meet up with penguin keeper Charlotte Barcas, who he described as “barking mad”.
“I demand to be allowed into the penguin enclosure and to live with the penguins as a penguin because I’m now a penguin,” claimed Piers.
Attracted 950 Ofcom complaints but he was cleared of any wrongdoing in November 2019, and in response, Morgan bragged “he was personally quite pleased” with having one of the highest number of complaints to any British TV show in 2019.
Twitter critic backlash
Piers was always centre of attention on GMB (Image: ITV)
He also told a Twitter critic to “f**k off” after he accused of celebrating the coronavirus crisis.
Morgan raged: “I don’t ‘celebrate’ the UK’s death toll. I’m horrified by it. Each fatality is someone’s grandparent, parent, sibling or child.
“I have 3 friends who’ve lost parents to COVID-19, & one whose husband is fighting for his life. So respectfully, f**k off.”
Trump tear-up
Piers famously fell out with former US President Donald Trump (Image: PA)
THe GMB star also slammed former US president Donald Trump for tweeting: “Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life”.
Morgan moaned: “President Trump breaks the covid quarantine that all Americans are required to follow if they test positive with coronavirus – to return to the Oval Office & show how tough he is. As a result, many other people now won’t bother to quarantine & others will die.”
The breakfast TV show host was also hit with more Ofcom complaints following an interview with Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani.
The interview got heated and many viewers were convinced Giuliani used the F-word by saying Piers “f****d up” his career in America.
Matt Hancock attack
Health Secretary Matt Hancock got a grilling from Piers (Image: Getty Images)
Never shy of trying to stay away from being politically correct, Morgan was slammed by viewers for his brutal interview with Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
Hancock famously snubbed the show for 201 days because of Morgan’s combative presenting.
And Hancock and other was left squirming when Morgan called for him to resign following the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Telly regulator Ofcom received a barrage of complaints about Morgan’s aggressive line of questioning and a charge sheet of supposed failures from Hancock and his colleagues during the Covid-19 crisis.
Piers raged: “Given that we now have over 50,000 deaths in this country, which is the worst death toll in Europe, why are you still Health Secretary? Why haven’t you handed in your resignation?
Dizzee Rascal Black Lives Matters bust-up
The rapper Dizzie Rascal had a run-in with Piers (Image: Redferns)
Piers clashed with rapper Dizzee Rascal, in June last year, who was challenged to articulate an answer on what ‘’Black Lives Matters’ means.
Rascal replied: “What makes you think I know?
And Morgan replied: “I don’t know, because you’re a black man!”
The rapper hit back: “But am I the Black spokesperson?” before adding he had plenty of views, but it was too early to talk about it.
You know what, I watch you on telly and you never let no-one speak. I’m not the one, you’re not going to do this to me mate.”
As Piers claimed he was being aggressive, Dizzee hit back: ”This is what happens, I become the aggressive Black man. I told you!
“I just wanted to be nice, and look how he’s behaving! You know who you need on here – Akala. We’re not going to fall out, but that’s the spokesman for something sensible.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
