Piers Morgan has claimed his refusal to apologise to Meghan Markle cost him his job on Good Morning Britain.
The journalist and broadcaster stood down after saying he did not believe the duchess’s remarks in the interview with Oprah Winfrey, when she spoke about her mental health and having suicidal thoughts.
His comments were criticised by mental health charity Mind and prompted 41,000 complaints to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom, and a formal complaint to ITV from Meghan.
In a lengthy “note of thanks” to supporters, he said: “Those of you that know me well enough know that, despite my many faults, I’m always willing to stand my ground for the things that I think matter most.
“My fervent opposition to the Iraq War led to my demise from the Daily Mirror. My outspoken views on the insanity of American gun laws led to the end of my time at CNN.
“And now I’ve lost my job at Good Morning Britain because I chose not to apologise for disbelieving Meghan Markle’s claims in her interview with Oprah Winfrey.”
In the letter, published on his Instagram account, he said he had become “the latest ‘victim’ of the cancel culture that is permeating our country” though he added he would “be neither a victim, nor actually cancelled.”
Morgan, a former Fleet Street editor turned broadcaster, said “the defence of free speech” was “the most important issue in British society”.
He also encouraged his followers to buy his new book, called Wake Up, saying free speech was “a hill worth dying on”.
