PIERS Morgan was “pushed to quit” his job hosting Good Morning Britain, claims an ITV insiser.
US website Deadline quoted an ITV Studios insider, saying the channel’s boss Kevin Lygo had “forced Piers out”.
Follow our Piers Morgan live blog for the latest on his GMB exit…
The source said: “He was definitely pushed. Pushed in that Kevin agreed he should go.
“Quite a few people in that studio didn’t like Piers.”
The Sun has contacted ITV for comment.
The 55-year-old stepped down from GMB last night after senior execs wanted him to say sorry on air after Meghan Markle complained to ITV to raise concerns his words might affect those struggling with mental health.
But Piers refused – and quit instead following his heated on-screen clash with his colleague Alex Beresford.
Meghan raised concerns with ITV’s CEO after Piers said he didn’t believe she had suffered suicidal thoughts.
The Duchess is said to have been worried it would affect others struggling with similar issues.
The presenter made a series of dismissive comments about Meghan’s claims she was “suicidal” and suffered issues with her mental health while a royal.
The 39-year-old Duchess told Oprah Winfrey she felt like she “didn’t want to be alive anymore” in her bombshell interview on Sunday.
But on Monday’s Good Morning Britain, Morgan said he “didn’t believe a word” of it.
He then rowed with Alex and stormed off the set – before handing in his notice to bosses hours later.
And it later emerged he was ordered to apologise after bosses were contacted by the Duchess, but refused.
It’s understood Meghan’s complaint wasn’t made over Piers’ dismissal of racism allegations, or her claims that she wasn’t supported by the Royal Family.
ITV’s royal editor Chris Ship said: “The Duchess of Sussex formally filed a complaint to ITV on Monday.
“It’s thought to have been sent to the broadcaster’s CEO.
“Meghan raised concerns about how Piers Morgan’s words affect the issue of mental health and what it might do to others contemplating suicide.”
Despite that, this morning, Piers doubled down on his decision to walk – tweeting: “Freedom of speech is a hill I’m happy to die on.”
And chatting to press outside his home this morning, he called the Duchess “contemptible”, adding he and ITV will “agree to disagree”.
It comes as:
ITV chiefs haven’t yet confirmed they were contacted by the royal.
An ITV spokesperson said: “ITV has accepted this decision and has nothing further to add.”
Piers brought an immediate end to his six-year stint on the show last night when he decided to walk rather than apologise to Meghan.
ITV bought the rights to the Oprah interview for a rumoured £1million and its news anchor Tom Bradby also secured an interview with the couple during their Africa tour in October 2019.
