‘Good Morning Britain’ host Piers Morgan has quit his job at ITV after storming off the set following a clash with co-presenter Alex Beresford.
The confrontation came when Beresford defended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and condemned Morgan’s on-air comments about the couple.
Morgan previously said he did not believe that staff of the monarchy had dismissed Meghan’s requests for help, as she had claimed in an exclusive interview with Oprah Winfrey.
"I'm sorry, I don't believe a word she says,” Morgan commented after the show played a clip of Meghan discussing the issue.
“I wouldn't believe her if she read me a weather report."
However, Morgan did emphasise mental health should be taken “seriously” and people with these issues should get the treatment they need.
But Beresford called out Morgan and claimed the press coverage about the couple had been “clearly damaging” to Meghan’s mental health.
In 2017, Morgan claimed he was ‘ghosted’ by the Duchess of Sussex after they met for drinks.
Beresford said Morgan had continued to “trash” Meghan, while she has not said a single negative comment about Morgan since she’d cut him off.
Journalist Piers Morgan said he did not believe Meghan's claims. Source: Press Association
“I understand that you’ve got a personal relationship with Meghan Markle - or had one - and she cut you off,” Beresford said.
“She’s entitled to cut you off if she wants to.”
Morgan responded by storming off the set as he uttered, “Okay, I’m done with this, sorry.”
“This is absolutely diabolical behaviour,” Beresford replied.
“I’m sorry but Piers spouts off on a regular basis and we all have to sit there and listen. 6.30 to 7 o’clock yesterday was incredibly hard to watch.”
Since the on-air blow-up, ITV has released a statement announcing Morgan has quit the show.
"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."
The U.K.’s Office of Communications said it receivedabout Morgan’s comments regarding Meghan and Harry’s interview with Oprah Winfrey.
After the clip went viral on social media, Beresford tweeted, “I wish I had the privilege to sit on the fence. In order for me to do that I would have to strip myself of my identity and that’s not something I can do.”
“It’s not any of our places to pick apart claims of racism in order to make us feel more comfortable.”
Tagging ‘Good Morning Britain’ on Twitter, Morgan wrote, “thinking of my late, great manager John Ferriter tonight. He’d have told me to do exactly the same thing. @GMB.”
Fans of the couple, and critics of Morgan, took to Twitter to congratulate Beresford for speaking up.
“Considering how Alex Beresford dragged Piers Morgan to the afterlife, can’t say I blame Piers for quitting after this,” one journalist added.
However, on social media fans of Morgan expressed their anger and frustration over his exit.
“Thanks for everything, Piers,” one person wrote.
“Not only do you stick up for yourself but you stick up for us as a country. A presenter who’s not afraid to say it how it is.”
Contact Lifeline, Australia’s leading suicide prevention service, on 13 11 14 or visit .
