© REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniPiers Morgan
Morgan, who has used his television platform to champion the government's lockdown measures, and issue scathing rebukes to the 'Covidiots' who violate them, confirmed on Sunday a report that he had traveled to Antigua for the Christmas holiday.
Political gossip site Guido Fawkes revealed last week that, according to an unnamed source, Morgan flew first class to Antigua shortly after urging cabinet ministers on his show to introduce tougher lockdown measures ahead of Christmas. He left the UK just before the government announced tough Tier 4 restrictions, according to the scoop, and enjoyed Christmas at an exclusive resort located on a private island accessible only by boat from Antigua.
As the political site noted, Morgan maintained an uncharacteristic silence on social media over Christmas.
After avoiding the explosive story for a week, Morgan claimed the report contained numerous inaccuracies, while acknowledging that he did in fact make the holiday getaway. The television host argued that the trip did not break any of the government's restrictions at the time of his departure, and claimed that he had never called for Christmas to be "cancelled," as the report alleged. He also denied that he flew first class.
Guido took a victory lap after Morgan confirmed its story, and accused the TV celebrity of engaging in "desperate excuse making that he would condemn from an interview guest." The site claimed that Morgan ignored the government's guidelines about non-essential travel, even after "a year of ranting about Covidiots and demanding tougher lockdowns."
The outlet also pointed to a rather sanctimonious statement that he made back in November, in which he declared that Covid-19 "doesn't give a flying f*ck about Christmas" and suggested that Britons should assent to a "virtual" Christmas in order to "save as many lives as possible."
Arguing that the apparent double-standard was "beyond cynical," Guido asked: "Why didn't Piers have a virtual beach holiday at home with a sun lamp, deckchair and a bag of sand?"
The gossip site called on Morgan to apologise to his viewers, insisting that there were "no excuses" for his non-essential international travel over the holidays.
Countless social media users joined the pile-on, labelling Morgan as a hypocrite who skirted the rules as he shamed those who questioned the government's Covid-19 measures.
This isn't the first time that Morgan has been accused of flouting the rules that he so militantly defends. Last month, he apologised after he was photographed getting into a taxi without wearing a mask, breaching the government's coronavirus guidelines.
It appears that the talking head isn't the only public figure to enjoy faraway beaches as they lectured Brits to stay home. The council leader of Richmondshire, Angie Dale, reportedly issued a statement to her constituents last week in which she reminded everyone to obey advice against non-essential travel. The notice, however, was written while Dale and her family were vacationing on the Maldivian island of Kudahuvadhoo.
Comment: Boris Johnson himself was caught up in a bit of a scandal after being spotted over 7 miles away from Downing Street biking. Of course the Met Police say that the PM did nothing wrong. But the women who drove 5 miles to go on a hike? They were surrounded by police and fined £200 each. The London police chief is even vowing to step up its enforcement of Covid-19 rules, warning that "those who break the rules or refuse to comply where they should without good reason will find officers moving much more quickly to enforcement action."
Welcome to the new normal, where you will be kept "safe" only if you follow the orders from the State.