British television host Piers Morgan speaks to reporters outside his home in Kensington, central London. Photo / AP
Piers Morgan has lashed Meghan Markle outside his London home and offered no apology or regret over his resignation, laughing and defiant while labelling her "contemptible".
Since the 55-year-old's controversial exit from Good Morning Britain, Morgan broke his silence in a scathing speech towards Meghan, saying he was willing to "fall on his sword" after "agreeing to disagree" with ITV over apologising for the rant.
Experts and commentators are divided on this issue, with some describing it a "melodrama" while others, like Sharon Osbourne, tweeting: "I am with you. I stand by you."
Piers Morgan, the British TV presenter who has just lost his high-profile breakfast show job over attacks on Meghan, said he still did not believe what she had said during her Oprah Winfrey interview https://t.co/5mYkOYIGDy pic.twitter.com/nx5PSl5I0t
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 10, 2021
Questioned as he walked his young daughter, Elise, to school on the first day after his departure, he claimed people were trying to cancel him and boldly confirmed he would "re-emerge".
"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.
"I don't believe almost anything that comes out of her mouth and 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.
"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."
WARNING: This clip contains flash photography.
— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 10, 2021
Former Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan says 'I believe in freedom of speech' as he defends comments he made about Meghan. He adds 'the damage she has done to the monarchy is enormous'.
Read more: https://t.co/7KuIYPQaUl pic.twitter.com/jHZ89Ilal4
His controversial views have been met with mixed response and he claims he is only in "temporary hibernation".
"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."
He said of his future that he is "always in talks with people".
On this occasion I completely agree with Piers Morgan. Cancel culture and the woke mob are killing free speech. pic.twitter.com/x2uB8dPAVF
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) March 10, 2021
It comes after revelations Meghan filed a complaint to the broadcaster's CEO raising concerns over Morgan's wording towards mental health after she said she had suffered suicidal thoughts during her explosive interview.
ITV's royal editor Chris Shipp confirmed the rumours overnight, saying Meghan filed the complaint on Monday to chief executive Carolyn McCall.
"I'm told that the letter was written by the duchess for one reason only — to raise and share concern over the serious impact that Morgan's comments could have on anyone struggling with their mental health or thinking about seeking help," Harper Bazaar's Omid Scobie continued.
So ... the Duchess of Sussex formally filed a complaint to @ITV on Monday.
— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) March 10, 2021
It’s thought to have been sent to the broadcaster’s CEO.
Meghan raised concerns about how @piersmorgan’s words affect the issue of mental health and what it might do to others contemplating suicide pic.twitter.com/rA09dOQ4GN
Despite the controversy Morgan said his exit from the program was "amicable" and that he and ITV "agreed to disagree".
"I'm just going to take it easy and see how we go."
Good Morning Britain co-host Susanna Reid opened the first show since Morgan left and addressed the controversy.
"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 the things that viewers loved about the program.
"He is, without doubt, an outspoken, challenging, opinionated, disruptive broadcaster. He has many critics and he has many fans.
"You all know that I disagreed with him about Meghan's interview, he himself clarified his comments about her mental health on the show yesterday.
"There are many voices on GMB and everyone has their say. But now Piers has decided to leave the program. Some of you may cheer and others will boo.
"It is certainly going to be very different. But shows go on, and so on we go."
'Shows go on and so on we go.'
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) March 10, 2021
'He has been a voice for many of you and a voice that many of you have railed against.'@susannareid100 speaks about Piers' resignation from GMB. pic.twitter.com/sVTcKMwx8N
Posting a quote about freedom of speech from Winston Churchill, Morgan added on Twitter: "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."
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. pic.twitter.com/bv6zpz4Roe
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) March 10, 2021
The divisive TV host chose to walk away from his high profile gig on Good Morning Britain after bosses told him he had to apologise on air for his comments about Meghan.
Morgan once again blasted the Prince Harry and Meghan on the TV show and eventually stormed off the set when his co-host Alex Beresford condemned his repeated attacks on the couple.