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Alex Beresford has spoken out following a heated row with Piers Morgan which saw the GMB journalist dramatically storm off set after being called out over his comments on Meghan Markle.
Sharing a message in which he wished he ‘had the privilege to sit on the fence’, weatherman Alex said he wasn’t able to ‘strip’ himself of his identity in order to do so, as he called out anyone picking apart claims of racism.
It followed the pair’s exchange on Tuesday morning, in which Alex said to Piers: ‘I understand that you don’t like Meghan Markle you’ve made that so clear a number of times on this programme. I understand that you’ve got a personal relationship with Meghan Markle or had one and she cut you off.
‘She’s entitled to cut you off if she wants to. Has she said anything about you since she cut you off? I don’t think she has but yet you continue to trash her.’
It was at this moment Piers got up from the desk and stormed out, saying: ‘I’m done with this. Sorry. You can trash me, mate, but not on my own show.’
‘See you later, can’t do this,’ he added, as Susanna Reid attempted in vain to diffuse the situation.
Now Alex has shared a message on Twitter, following mass praise being thrown his way by viewers and celebrities who supported and applauded his speaking out.
I wish I had the privilege to sit on the fence. In order for me to do that I would have to strip myself of my identity and that’s not something I can do. It’s not any of our places to pick apart claims of racism in order to make us to feel more comfortable. â¤ï¸
— Alex Beresford (@alexberesfordTV) March 9, 2021
He wrote: ‘I wish I had the privilege to sit on the fence. In order for me to do that I would have to strip myself of my identity and that’s not something I can do.
‘It’s not any of our places to pick apart claims of racism in order to make us to feel more comfortable.’
Tensions flared between Piers, 55, and Alex, 40, as they clashed over Meghan and Prince Harry’s interview with Oprah Winfrey at the weekend, which drew in more than 11.3million viewers for ITV on Monday night.
Responding to his reaction, Piers tweeted afterwards: ‘I was annoyed, went for a little cool-down, and came back to finish the discussion.’
When he returned to set, he told Alex: ‘I completely respect that. It was my idea to have you on to talk about this.’
He insisted he has not got a ‘racist bone’ in his body.
Alex said he wasn’t accusing his colleague of being a racist, and doesn’t think he is one, adding: ‘I just feel the stance you were taking on it yesterday was so strong I just felt it was slightly clouded because you’ve had an experience with her.’
Social media was immediately flooded with praise for the weatherman with BBC Radio 1 presenter Clara Amfo saying: ‘To storm out of a studio live on TV because you don’t like what your mixed raced colleague is saying about your perverse and hateful obsession with a mixed race woman who ceased contact with you, then knowing that your job will absolutely remain in tact….must be nice.’
Comedian Jason Manford cheered: ‘Best bit of telly for a while thanks to @alexberesfordTV ! #GMB. @piersmorgan even you’ve gotta admit the idea of someone asking a woman ‘what colour will your baby be?’ &that not be racist is ludicrous! there is literally no way you can ask that without sounding like a racist!’
BBC’s Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis reacted: ‘Forget piers walking off. Listen to Alex. He’s superb,’ while Love Island star Amber Gill simply stated: ‘Good morning to @alexberesfordTV only.’
Good Morning Britain returns 6am on ITV.