Piers Morgan has branded criticism faced by Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield as “ridiculous” in light of the This Morning hosts facing backlash for appearing to jump the queue to visit the Queen’s Lying-in-State.
The pair were spotted paying their respects to the late monarch last week at Windsor Hall where they donned press passes around their necks, sparking people to believe it gave them priority access while others waited hours on end to see the Queen’s coffin.
People have now criticised them, and even gone as far as creating a petition to have the hosting duo axed from ITV’s This Morning.
Piers Morgan has since spoken out in Holly and Phil’s defence however, calling the backlash they’re facing “ridiculous”.
“All hell broke loose about this, they have been subject to, I think, a ridiculously over-the-top campaign,” he said on his TalkTV show.
"20,000 people have signed a petition to have them fired. Of course they shouldn't be fired, it's ridiculous."
He went on: “It may have been a misjudgement. I said myself on this show, I don't think anyone should have been jumping the queue full stop, whoever you are, unless you are a world leader and there is a time issue."
Piers then proceeded to play a clip of Holly addressing the criticism herself, and said the mum-of-three is “distraught”.
"Full disclosure, I am a good friend with Holly and I feel very sorry, she is absolutely distraught about the reaction,” he revealed.
Echoing similar sentiments, a source told Mail Online that Holly’s been “in floods of tears”.
“Phillip and Holly are dumbstruck at the level of anger they've received in the past few days,” they told the publication.
“They felt ITV should have made it clearer, right away, that it was part of a broadcast.”
“When they started being bombarded with messages via social media they were simply stunned. They've been left astonished at the way the whole thing has mushroomed,” the source went on.
“Holly, in particular, has been left totally distraught by this. She's been in floods of tears at some of the things she's been called and of the behaviour she's been accused of.”
The likes of Mel B, Susanna Reid and Eamonn Holmes have appeared to make digs at the hosting pair in light of their alleged special treatment, while others, such as The Chase’s Anne Hegerty, have defended them.
READ MORE:
Mel B makes pointed GMB dig at 'Queen queue jumpers' amid Holly and Phil backlash
The Chase's Anne Hegerty defends Holly and Phil's 'queue jump' after public outcry
Royal staff left 'fuming' over celebrities using priority lanes to see the Queen's coffin
This Morning quietly ditches energy bills prize on Spin To Win after Ofcom complaints
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