The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Yui Mok/PA)
The society previously claimed: “The UK media is not bigoted and will not be swayed from its vital role holding the rich and powerful to account following the attack on the press by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.”
Executive director Ian Murray added the press “has a proud record of calling out racism and also being at the forefront of campaigns to support mental health awareness, another of the issues raised by the couple”.
However, a new statement from the board of the society said: “The Society of Editors has a proud history of campaigning for freedom of speech and the vital work that journalists do in a democracy to hold power to account.
Executive director Ian Murray sparked a backlash when he claimed the UK media was "not bigoted" in the wake of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s interview.
Racism, the culture wars, and the self-cancellation of Piers Morgan
. Yesterday, Piers Morgan whose longstanding animus toward Meghan Markle has reached a deranged fever pitch since she and her husband, Prince Harry, sat for an explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey stormed off the set of
Good Morning Britain, a breakfast show that he co-hosted on ITV (the same network, incidentally, that broadcast the Oprah interview in the UK). He had been challenged on air by a colleague, Alex Beresford, who suggested to Morgan that he dislikes Meghan because she snubbed him socially. “Has she said anything about you since she cut you off?” Beresford asked. “I don’t think she has, but yet you continue to trash her.” At that, Morgan stood up and walked out. “Sorry,” he said, “can’t do this.” Beresford shook his head. “This is absolutely diabolical behavior,” he said. “I’m sorry, but Piers spouts off on a regular basis and we all have to sit there and listen.” Susann