Coming off of Monday's tumultuous discussion about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's interview, British news anchor Piers Morgan stormed off the set of his show Good Morning Britain after his co-host kindly put him in his place.
During Tuesday's taping of the show, co-host Alex Beresford expressed the need for compassion and understanding for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after revealing their bouts with mental health and racism, according to HuffPost.
Markle shared with Oprah Winfrey during the interview that a member of the royal family raised concern over her son's skin tone, as Blavity previously reported. The Duchess of Sussex also said that she had expressed to her husband she no longer wanted to be alive.
Beresford defended the married couple, saying they have experienced "an overwhelming amount of negative press" that was "incredibly damaging" since announcing their engagement.
The co-host went on to address Morgan's comments belittling the couple's revelations during the interview, saying “I hear Piers say William has gone through the same thing, but do you know what? Siblings experience tragedy in their life and one will be absolutely fine and brush it off and the other will not be able to deal with it so strongly and that is clearly what has happened with Prince Harry in this situation.”
“He walked behind his mother’s coffin at a tender, tender age in front of the globe. That is going to shape a young boy for the rest of his life,” Beresford continued. “So I think that we all need to take a step back.”
Morgan remained silent as the Good Morning Britain weather forecaster continued sharing his thoughts, eventually going on to mention his relationship with Markle which has since dissolved.
"I understand that you don’t like Meghan Markle. You’ve made that so clear a number of times on this program. A number of times. And I understand that you’ve got a personal relationship with Meghan Markle or had one and she cut you off. She’s entitled to cut you off if she wants to," Beresford said.
"Has she said anything about you since she cut you off? I don’t think she has, but yet you continue to trash her," he added.
The embattled 55-year-old host then said, "pathetic" while storming off the set.
Piers Morgan just walked off the Good Morning Britain set (!!!) after co-presenter Alex Beresford defended Harry and Meghan and condemned Piers' treatment of them in yesterday's programming pic.twitter.com/mH75J8ND4O
— Chris Rickett (@chrisrickett) March 9, 2021
"Okay, I'm done with this, sorry, no, sorry… see you later, sorry, can't do this," Morgan said.
After returning from a commercial break, the two co-hosts continued their dialogue. Beresford ensured Morgan that he was "not trying to come on this show and take you down, tear you apart."
“This whole situation is very personal for me and I’m by no way, shape or form accusing you of being a racist,” Beresford said. “I have the luxury of knowing you on and off-screen and we’ve had conversations, I know where you stand on this and I have a great amount of respect for you, Piers.”
He went on to share that he empathizes with Markle, mentioning his personal experience with racism.
“I’m tired of finding a different way to explain not to you, but to so many people on why what has been said is so wrong," Beresford said.
"I’ve walked into institutions as the only person of color and experienced covert and overt racism on so many occasions and why the Meghan interview really resonates with me is because an ex-work colleague — not on this show — asked me if I was worried about the shade of cocoa that my son was going to come out. So I fully understand the hurt that is behind all of that,” he continued.
ITV later issued a statement announcing that Morgan had since resigned from his position, CNN reported.
"Following discussions with ITV, Piers Morgan has decided now is the time to leave Good Morning Britain," the statement read. "ITV has accepted this decision and has nothing further to add."
U.K. media regulator Ofcom said more than 41,000 complaints have been issued against the show, adding it would be launching an investigation into Monday's episode.
On Monday, the day after the couple's interview aired, Morgan raised doubt over Markle's comments about being suicidal and tweeted that "anyone who criticizes Meghan Markle is deemed a racist bully."
Before walking off the set, the atmosphere seemed to be ideal for a heated incident with Morgan making unnecessary comments about his co-hosts dress, referring to it as a mini skirt.
"It's just a dress," the host said before standing up showing off her outfit which stopped slightly above her knees.
"No it's not," Morgan said.