This week’s episode of Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg proved even harder to stomach than usual – namely because Piers Morgan was introduced to the menu. While this horrible hotpot was always going to be vomit-inducing, it didn’t have to be quite so foul. However, for some unknown reason Kuenssberg gave Morgan the opportunity to whitewash one of his greatest ever scandals.
Do you people ever do any research?
Morgan is famous for many things, but the most notable three are probably:
- Getting angry at sausage rolls.
- Storming off a television set because a co-host hurt his feelings.
- Resigning in disgrace from a British tabloid newspaper and then somehow continuing to work in the allegedly ‘respectful’ field of UK journalism.
While the scandal which led to his resignation wasn’t centred on phone hacking, it later came to light that Morgan had indeed been involved in the rancid practice.
Piers Morgan just denied listening to other people’s private voicemails on #BBCLauraK.
Yet the same Piers Morgan admitted to doing exactly that when pressed in court. pic.twitter.com/AGjnV54eXg
— Eddie Burfi (@EddieBurfi) September 3, 2023
For those who can’t watch the above video (either because you’re at work or you can’t stand to watch this sack of gone-off ham talk), Morgan was asked:
you listened to a tape of a voicemail message, is that correct?
Morgan responded:
I listened to a tape of a message, yes.
#BBCLauraK: "I do want to ask you if you have ever listened to a voicemail without the consent of one of the participants"
Piers Morgan: "No…" 🤔 pic.twitter.com/CbOVIZCdw0
— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) September 3, 2023
Given that this was something he said in court, we can legally consider this to be true – i.e., we don’t have to say this ‘allegedly’ happened. It did happen. Morgan listened to a tape of a “message”, and from context we know this message was a voicemail.
‘I want to move on’…
As such, it’s confusing as to why Kuenssberg felt the need to ask:
I do want to ask you if you have ever listened to a voicemail without the consent of one of the participants.
For a split second it looked like Morgan is holding back a smirk. He then said “no”, before laying out his “position on hacking” – a position which doesn’t actually give any clarity on whether he listened to voicemails without consent (which we know he did). After allowing him to waffle on and completely strawman the discussion, Kuenssberg unleashed her infamous catchphrase:
I want to move on.
“I have never hacked a phone… no one’s produced any evidence”
Journalist Piers Morgan denies allegations that he told reporters to hack phones and accuses Prince Harry, who is suing Mirror Group Newspapers, of being a “shameless hypocrite”#BBCLauraK https://t.co/H5cHGUu3Es pic.twitter.com/u6JFlLwGDq
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) September 3, 2023
Here’s how this should have gone. Firstly, Kuenssberg should have said something along the lines of ‘you listened to people’s voicemails without consent, and we know you did because you admitted it in court, you fucking rat’. Then she should have said, ‘I don’t know what’s come over me – I seem to have accidentally said something correct and worthwhile’. Then both she and Morgan should have hoisted themselves into the nearest bin to await disposal.
The British Backlash Corporation
People weren’t happy with Morgan getting airtime (especially as he enjoys airtime of his own at Rupert Murdoch’s pleasure):
Piers Morgan is lying. He knew all about criminal phone hacking.
Why is this preening liar being given yet more airtime on #bbclaurak? He has his own show on Murdoch TV ffs.https://t.co/s9NQk1Ec5D
— Tom Scott 🇺🇦 (@Tom___Scott) September 3, 2023
Shame on you #bbclaurak having Piers Morgan on, he has his own show to promote which he just did.
Same applies to #Phillips with Rachel Johnson. She has her own radio show.
We don’t need to hear from either of these gobshites.
— Hugh Edwards 🌹 (@HughEdw31897368) September 3, 2023
Here’s Piers Morgan, who wants you to believe that he became editor of the Daily Mirror, recruited all his pals, & then knew absolutely nothing about the unethical acquisition of celebrities personal data by the team he handpicked, excusing that exact behaviour #bbclaurak https://t.co/w0MTJVyLuU
— Stuzi 🐝🐝 (@stuzi_pants) September 3, 2023
One person thought Morgan was unhappy with the question. I’d argue he was actually very happy with the opportunity Kuenssberg gifted him not to answer it:
Piers Morgan being asked on #BBCLauraK if ever hacked anyone's phone pic.twitter.com/OB4XXuSZnm
— dave ❄️ 🥕 🧻 (@mrdavemacleod) September 3, 2023
After all, the BBC didn’t just allow him to get away with not answering – they also promoted his non-answer:
“I have never hacked a phone… no one’s produced any evidence”
Journalist Piers Morgan denies allegations that he told reporters to hack phones and accuses Prince Harry, who is suing Mirror Group Newspapers, of being a “shameless hypocrite”#BBCLauraK https://t.co/H5cHGUu3Es pic.twitter.com/u6JFlLwGDq
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) September 3, 2023
Alleged journalism
Some might say the disgraced Morgan being allowed on the BBC is a national embarrassment. Others might argue the BBC is – if anything – equally as repellant as him. There’s one thing we can all agree on, though – namely that these ‘journalists’ should be cooked in a giant sausage roll and launched into space.
Featured image via BBC Politics – screengrab
