Piers Morgan has spoken out for the first time since his dramatic departure from Good Morning Britain after causing controversy with his comments on Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Oprah interview.
ITV released a statement last night (9 March) announcing, “Piers Morgan has decided now is the time to leave Good Morning Britain. ITV has accepted the decision and has nothing further to add.”
Taking to Twitter this morning, the journalist and TV presenter said that he stands by his criticism of the Duchess and defended his right to "freedom of speech".
Piers wrote, “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.”
His tweet was accompanied by a picture of Winston Churchill alongside a quote about free speech.
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Speaking outside his London home today, Piers added, “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."
He also described his Good Morning Britain exit as “a temporary hibernation” and said he was “always in talks with people” about other work.
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Over 40,000 complaints were made to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom after Piers questioned claims made by Meghan in her interview with Oprah; in which she explained past thoughts of suicide.
"Who did you go to? What did they say to you? I’m sorry, I don’t believe a word she said, Meghan Markle. I wouldn’t believe it if she read me a weather report,” said on Monday’s edition of GMB.
He later explained, “When we talked about this yesterday, I said as an all-encompassing thing I don’t believe what Meghan Markle is saying generally in this interview, and I still have serious concerns about the veracity of a lot of what she said.
"But let me just state on the record my position about mental illness and on suicide. These are clearly extremely serious things that should be taken extremely seriously, and if someone is feeling that way they should get the treatment and help they need every time."