British TV personality, Piers Morgan has escaped being hammered by the UK media regulator, Ofcom following comments he made on air about Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, after her bombshell interview with media mogul, Oprah Winfrey.
Piers Morgan was cleared of breaching British broadcasting rules by Ofcom on Wednesday, September 1, 2021.
Justifying what it described as a “finely-balanced” decision, Ofcom said the comments were potentially “harmful and offensive to viewers” but it took into account freedom of expression and the “strong challenge” of Morgan’s co-host on the show, which prompted him to walk off set.
Ofcom declared he had a right to “disbelieve” Meghan Markle during the infamous Good Morning Britain moment. In a 97-page ruling outlining the decision, Ofcom said; “Mr. Morgan was entitled to say he disbelieved the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s allegations and to hold and express strong views that rigorously challenged their account.”
Mr. Morgan has now expressed delight on Twitter about the decision to clear him, writing that it was a “resounding victory for free speech and a resounding defeat for Princess Pinocchios.”
READ ALSO: Meghan Markle files suit against Piers Morgan for criticising her claims against the Royal Family
He wrote; “BREAKING: ? @Ofcom rejects all complaints against me over Meghan Markle furore that led to my exit from ? @GMB.
“Verdict says I was entitled to disbelieve her & Prince Harry & to restrict my right to do so would be a ‘chilling restriction on freedom of expression.’”
He also included a screenshot of Ofcom’s statement, which read; “The Code allows for individuals to express strongly held and robustly argued views, including those that are potentially harmful or highly offensive, and for broadcasters to include these in their programming.
“The restrictions of such views would, in our view, be an unwarranted and chilling restriction on freedom of expression both of the broadcaster and the audience.”
