Piers Morgan has slammed Billy Porter’s statement tuxedo dress at the Oscars, branding it “ridiculous”.
Porter, 49, stole the red carpet after arriving in the custom velvet number by Christian Siriano on Sunday night.
Morgan, who tweeted his dislike, also addressed the gown on Good Morning Britain where he was joined by Mel B, Vinnie Jones and Perez Hilton for an Oscars special with co-host Susanna Reid.
“He looked absolutely ridiculous,” he said as Mel B deemed it a “statement”.
An unconvinced Morgan replied: “What’s the statement?”
“In this day and age men and women can wear anything,” Mel B said. “It was a statement – a big statement. You should try it Piers.”
Reid also defended the look, arguing: “Plenty of the women wore tuxes and no one ever bats an eyelid, so why do we complain if a man wears a dress?”
His comments predictably sparked a backlash online with one tweeting: “Billy Porter can (and does) wear whatever he damn well pleases.”
Morgan, 53, replied: “Of course, just as I can (and do) say what I damn well please.”
Others accused him of ‘not understanding fashion’ while another wrote: “Don't be a hater dear, everything I see on this pic is absolutely gorgeous.”
TV presenter Julia Bradbury also waded in, posting: “As you saw, plenty of women donning the tux...so why not?”
Morgan also took aim at Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, who he accused of ‘crossing a line’ with their duet at the annual ceremony.
The pair cuddled and wrapped their arms around one another on stage as they performed Shallow, the hit song from A Star is Born which picked up Best Original Song.
Referencing Gaga’s recent split from fiancé Christian Carino, he said: “What’s going on there? It was the look of love. If you put the maths together you have her taking the engagement ring off and then staring at Bradley Cooper in a way I would say crosses a few lines.”
He also tweeted about the incident and asked: “Are we 100% certain these two are just good friends... ?”
