Piers Morgan has been branded a ‘sleaze’ and a ‘creep’ after ranting about the removal of Miss World’s swimwear round.
The Good Morning Britain presenter salivated as he went on about how much he used to enjoy watching the round as he spoke to the current reigning champion.
Vanessa Ponce De Leon was a guest on the breakfast show along with Julia Morley, who has rebranded the pageant in recent years by banning the swimwear round and instead launching a makeup-free round.
“I don’t think you should be remotely afraid to accept you’re dazzlingly beautiful,” Piers began.
“When I grew up I used to love watching Miss World because I want to see beautiful people.
"When did that become a crime to be beautiful?
“You shouldn’t have to defend yourself or try and say you’re changing the world or fixing the planet of all its problems - just be beautiful.”
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Wearing her crown, Vanessa, from Mexico, talked about how her “full time volunteering” work helped lead to her to victory.
Piers continued: “This is fine, I have no problem with this, you can always use your influence in a good way. But ultimately Miss World is about celebrating female beauty.
“I already got upset when the bikini round went, why? They’re beautiful girls looking beautiful. Why shouldn’t we just be able to enjoy and appreciate fabulous female beauty?”
Julia pointed out that some nations do not want their entry to walk out on stage in a bikini - and Piers just shot back: “Don’t let them enter.
“If you ban all women from doing certain rounds, that’s your problem, not ours.”
When Vanessa insisted that the entrants to Miss World are all changing the world through projects in their communities, it fell on deaf ears.
“I know why I like Miss World. You won it because you’re the most beautiful, right? That’s why you’ve got the crown,” he continued.
“You didn’t win Miss World because of your thoughts on world peace. You won it because you’re the best looking.”
Annoyed viewers of the ITV show spoke of their disgust on Twitter.
One said: “Piers Morgan going too far talking about Miss World and just coming across as a sleeze.”
Another said: “Piers being a creepy f*** as per usual.”
A third said: “Piers Morgan objects to Wimbledon dropping the use of female titles at the end of games, because chivalry, then immediately goes onto to the next story about Miss World, while salivating as he requests that the swimwear round is brought back.”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV.
