An investigation into Piers Morgan’s comments about Meghan Markle’s claim of racism in the royal family has cleared the broadcaster, a British regulator announced Wednesday.
The 97-page report from the United Kingdom’s Office of Communications came out in favor of Morgan, claiming there was a finely balanced line between a commentator’s freedom of expression and the harm and offense his comments could cause viewers.
“Mr. Morgan’s comments were potentially harmful and offensive to viewers, and we recognise the strong public reaction to them,” Ofcom tweeted in a statement attached to the summary. “But we also took full account of freedom of expression. Under our rules, broadcasters can include controversial opinions as part of legitimate debate in the public interest, and the strong challenge to Mr. Morgan from other contributors provided important context for viewers.”
Ofcom said it reminded ITV, the network that broadcasts Good Morning Britain, to take greater care in the debate surrounding mental health and race.
If Morgan were found to have violated the rules, consequences could have included banning the episode from re-airing or replaying in the future, imposing a fine on either the network or Morgan, ordering a correction or apology, or revoking the broadcast license of the network or person.
Morgan said he was “delighted OFCOM has endorsed [his] right to disbelieve the Duke & Duchess of Sussex’s incendiary claims to Oprah Winfrey, many of which have proven to be untrue.”
“This is a resounding victory for free speech and a resounding defeat for Princess Pinocchios. Do I get my job back?” he added.
After Markle and Prince Harry made explosive claims about the royal family in a bombshell March 7 interview with Oprah Winfrey, including allegations of royals’ “concerns” about biracial son Archie’s skin color and Buckingham Palace’s reluctance to get Markle mental health counseling despite her contemplating suicide, Morgan vehemently rejected Markle’s assertions, saying he didn’t “believe a word she says.”
“I wouldn’t believe her if she read me a weather report,” he added shortly after Winfrey’s interview aired.
Morgan’s comments led to Ofcom opening its investigation under its “harm and offense” rules. Markle filed a separate complaint with ITV, which received more than 40,000 complaints about the broadcaster’s remarks.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Morgan received support from some, including Sharon Osbourne, who departed from her role at CBS’s The Talk following her defense of Morgan’s remarks.
Morgan, who had been with Good Morning Britain for six years, left the show following the controversy. He hasn’t alluded to his next steps, only saying he was “off to spend more time with [his] opinions.”
