Piers Morgan slammed Holly Willoughby for showing off her “sizzling” legs for attention as she made her I’m A Celebrity debut.
Morgan joked he was going to “fire himself” after his crude comments about Willoughby’s legs during a chat about the new series on Good Morning Britain.
In response to Richard Arnold saying that the chemistry between Declan Donnelly and Willoughby had been “sizzling”, Morgan added “as were her legs”.
The controversial broadcaster said: “Ooh! No, I can't say that anymore. I'm going to fire myself, I'm so sorry.
"I objectified a very attractive female presenter who was deliberately showing off her legs so we'd all comment on them, but if I comment on them I have to be fired.
“Isn't that wonderful? Isn't it great the way the world's now gone? So Holly, I now withdraw my allegation that you have great legs. But you have great legs, and I thought they looked magnificent last night..”
The 53-year-old later defended himself on Twitter, saying that he was “just stating a fact”, as other users blasted his on-air comments.
One wrote: “@piersmorgan stop sexualising Holly’s legs. If you find a woman’s legs that 'sizzling' then YOU need self control... she doesn’t need to cover up herself due to your poor taste.”
Another commented: “@piersmorgan her legs are great but I can assure you she wore what she wore because she liked it and thought she looked good in it, not just because her legs are 'sizzling'. She didn't wear it so you could talk over everyone and repeatedly comment about them. God you’re dramatic.”
Willoughby made her I’m A Celebrity debut standing in for good friend Ant McPartlin alongside Donnelly on Sunday night.
But the This Morning presenter received a lukewarm reception from viewers who claimed she looked “awkward” during the show.
Others begged for McPartlin to return.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV. I’m a Celebrity continues nightly at 9pm.
