ITV Faces Backlash for Forcing Out Piers Morgan After Ofcom Clears Him of Breaching Broadcasting Code

Left-leaning ITV boss Carolyn McCall and other executives at the channel are facing criticism today for their decision to remove Piers Morgan from Good Morning Britain (GMB) following his comments about Meghan Markle.

Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, ruled that Morgan did not breach its broadcasting code with his criticism of the Duchess of Sussex.

Ex-Guardian Chief Dame Carolyn is now under pressure to explain why she attempted to suppress Morgan's free speech after Meghan complained to her directly, allegedly urging her to censure her critic on the grounds that they were both women and mothers.

The regulator's decision comes after Morgan's comments about Meghan during her interview with Oprah Winfrey sparked 50,000 complaints, with some alleging that his words were harmful and highly offensive.

The aftermath of Morgan's departure saw ITV lose hundreds of thousands of viewers and millions in advertising revenue, as GMB experienced a significant ratings decline compared to rival BBC Breakfast.

ITV News Royal Editor Chris Schipp took to Twitter to question what the network would do about Morgan's job now that Ofcom had cleared him of any wrongdoing.

Morgan himself responded to the tweet with a puzzled face emoji.

Meanwhile, Morgan's former co-host Susannah Reed retweeted Ofcom's verdict without comment.

However, others expressed disappointment that Meghan's formal complaint had seemingly influenced ITV's decision-making process.

In a revelation today, Morgan claimed that Meghan had written directly to his ITV boss, Dame Carolyn McCall, the night before he was forced to leave the show, demanding his removal.

Viewers have since voiced their support for Morgan and urged ITV to bring him back, calling on the network to “see sense” and “do the right thing.”

Male online columnist Dan Wooten led the criticism against ITV, while an ITV spokesperson welcomed Ofcom's ruling, stating that the program's editorial decisions and the opposing views expressed by other presenters and guests had prevented any breach of broadcasting standards.

However, Morgan challenged ITV's statement, suggesting that the network had misinterpreted the Ofcom report.

He pointed out that the report did not attribute his victory to the differing opinions expressed by his colleagues.

Journalist Dan Wooten also praised Ofcom's decision, emphasizing the importance of free speech and criticizing ITV for damaging its own breakfast show in the process.

The controversy surrounding Morgan's departure and the subsequent Ofcom ruling has raised questions about freedom of expression and the silencing of dissenting opinions.

Former Sun editor Kelvin McKenzie called for Carolyn McCall's dismissal and Morgan's reinstatement, characterizing ITV's actions as a chilling restriction on freedom of expression.

Presenter India Willoughby expressed disappointment at Meghan's alleged influence over ITV, while Toby Young of the Free Speech Union welcomed Ofcom's decision, describing any criticism of Meghan as not inherently racist.

Ofcom acknowledged the potential harm and offense caused by Morgan's comments but also emphasized the importance of freedom of expression.

The regulator reminded ITV to exercise greater caution when discussing mental health and suicide in future programming, suggesting the use of timely warnings or signposting of support services to protect viewers.

Despite the ruling, Morgan celebrated his vindication on social media, expressing his delight at being able to disbelieve the claims made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their interview with Oprah.

Meghan had accused the royal family of ignoring her mental health concerns and alleged that racist comments were made before her son Archie's birth.

Morgan's response to her claims during the GMB episode generated a record-breaking 54,453 complaints, making it the most complained-about TV moment in Ofcom's history.

Ultimately, Ofcom determined that the GMB episode provided sufficient challenge and context to viewers, thereby protecting them from potential harm.

While some comments about race were potentially highly offensive, they were deemed adequately contextualized.

As a result, Ofcom concluded that the program did not breach its broadcasting code.

The aftermath of this controversy has left ITV facing public backlash and calls for Piers Morgan's reinstatement.

The network now finds itself at a crossroads, forced to navigate the delicate balance between freedom of expression and responsible broadcasting.