British television network, ITV have explained why they cannot sack one of their controversial and influential presenter, Piers Morgan. The explanation comes a day after there were calls for his sacking for racially abusing Meghan Markle after her controversial interview with Oprah.
ITV which was also at the receiving end of the backlash for accommodating Piers Morgan as he continuously slanders Meghan Markle on their show, said they have spoken to the presenter, but cannot control his private life.
ITV said Morgan was a freelance presenter and they have no control over his Twitter account, which has 7.7 million followers.
Piers Morgan who also has laughed off calls for his sacking, had tweeted this message after the interview on Sunday. He said: “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.”
His remarks were widely criticised by his co-presenters and on social media, with broadcaster ITV being called “hypocritical” for allowing him to “cast aspersions” on Markle’s mental health while also running the mental health campaign Get Britain Talking.
According to the report by Reuters, ITV Chief Executive Carolyn McCall while responding to the backlash for airing Piers Morgan’s recent criticisms of Meghan Markle defended the broadcaster, stating: “ITV has many voices and we try and represent as many voices on ITV every day. It’s not about one opinion.”
Carolyn McCall told reporters she had not spoken to Morgan, but that Kevin Lygo, managing director of media and entertainment, had. Morgan is an anchor on its breakfast show Good Morning Britain.
“I know Kevin Lygo is speaking to him on a regular basis and has done so in the last couple of days,” she said.
Morgan has cast doubt on Meghan’s comments in the interview. When his co-presenter noted that Meghan had said she’d been driven to the verge of taking her own life, Morgan replied: “She says that, yes.”
McCall, who was presenting ITV’s full-year results, said Morgan had “qualified” his earlier comments.
Morgan said on Tuesday: “I still have serious concerns about the veracity of a lot of what she said, but let me just state for the record about my position on mental illness and on suicide.
“They should be taken extremely seriously and if someone is feeling that way they should get the treatment and help that they need every time, and if they belong to an institution like the royal family and they go and seek that help they should absolutely be given it,” he said.