Naomi Osaka caused a stir in the tennis world by refusing to appear in front of the media during the ongoing French Open Roland-Garros tournament - and later quit the whole tournament after being fined for the decision.
She said she would no longer appear at press conferences to protect her mental health - which, in an era where people are more open about their mental health struggles, feels like a positive step to take.
But, never short of an opinion, Piers Morgan blasted her in his Mail Online column, calling her an “arrogant spoiled brat whose fame and fortune appears to have inflated her ego to gigantic proportions”.
She wrote on Instagram: “I've watched many clips of athletes breaking down after a loss in the press room and I know you have as well. I believe that whole situation is kicking a person while they're down and I don't understand the reasoning behind it.”
But Morgan said he read her measured, vulnerable message with “fury”.
“What Osaka really means is that she doesn't want to face the media if she hasn't played well, because the beastly journalists might actually dare to criticize her performance, and she's not going to 'subject' herself to 'people that doubt me.'”
There’s just one flaw in his claim that avoiding scrutiny and tough conversation is the mark of an “arrogant spoiled brat” - he did the exact same thing on Good Morning Britain before quitting the show.
He walked off the set in March after co-star Alex Beresford condemned his comments about Meghan Markle.
Morgan had faced heavy criticism for his remarks about Prince Harry and Meghan, following the couple’s interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Beresford said: “I understand that you don’t like Meghan Markle. You’ve made it so clear a number of times on this programme, and I understand that you had a personal relationship with Meghan Markle and she cut you off. Has she said anything about you after she cut you off? She’s entitled to cut you off if she wants to. And yet you continue to trash her.”
At this point, Morgan stood up and walked away from the Good Morning Britain set, saying: “OK, I’m done with this.”
And Twitter users we’re quick to remind him of it:
Piers Morgan walked off his own show’s set after 90 seconds of gentle critique but can’t understand why Naomi Osaka withdrew from one tennis match after years of media ignited mental health struggles. Smh https://t.co/sfvMYno9Mf
— Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@QasimRashid) June 1, 2021
The guy who stormed off set in his own show is demanding someone else talks to the press.
— KevinMac29__ (@KevinMac29) May 31, 2021
You can't make this shit up
So.. you are saying that not being able to stay in a room for a few minutes with a handful of media people doing their job is unacceptable.. I see what to you did there. https://t.co/3aLY0Gh8s9
— KO! Media (@KOTVMedia) May 31, 2021
lmao you walked off your own show, like wanting and eating your own shit https://t.co/dN2MWFdE1X
— Max Kennerly (@MaxKennerly) May 31, 2021
just sharing this again… pic.twitter.com/d9OjCEJtzB
— smoothlikebutter (@nanayada95) May 31, 2021
Piers Morgan couldn't handle being asked a question on his own TV show so I'm not sure he's best placed to comment on Naomi Osaka avoiding press.
— Lee S (@underarm_ace) May 30, 2021
People shouldn’t avoid scrutiny eh? pic.twitter.com/JLdKb10Ace
— Michael Skillen (@Skildorz11) May 30, 2021
That's rich coming from you. You stormed off set after legitimate media scrutiny. Take several seats
— Tae Ho (@Laeeqah7007) June 1, 2021
Big words from someone who flounced off set because the weatherman gave them a talking to
— Gwdihŵ🦉 (@youwouldknow) May 31, 2021
Man who stormed off his own show for being questioned writes article criticising a woman who was just trying to protect her #mentalhealth #NaomiOsaka https://t.co/BESeeE1fh9
— Hasan Patel (@Hasanpatel) June 1, 2021
The internet never forgets.
On Monday she quit the entire tournament - a move people used to point out to Morgan just how tough a toll the tournament had taken upon her.
Alas, at the time of publishing, he seemed unrepentant.
No, she’s withdrawn because of the backlash to her attack on the tennis media for doing their job. https://t.co/bSpRuNo31d
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 31, 2021
What journalist will dare criticise Naomi Osaka ever again? She’s got what she wanted - no more criticism, only praise. Meanwhile all her fellow tennis professionals will continue to fulfil their contractual obligations to the media & get criticism when deserved.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 1, 2021
This seem fair?
And the next day, in reference to people reminding him of the GMB incident, he added:
I was protecting my mental health. https://t.co/8bnWBPbtvD
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 1, 2021
Don’t think that’s the last we’ll hear of this...
