Piers Morgan: Sending black footballers a monkey emoji ‘is racism’

"Let me help you, if somebody sends a monkey emoji to a black footballer, that is racism."

Piers Morgan has spoken out about Twitter stating that monkey emojis sent to black footballers do not break their rules on racism. Several Premier League clubs had reported racist messages directed at their players on the social media platform featuring the emojis, only to receive responses from the platform saying that no regulations had been broken, and that no action would be taken against those who sent the tweets as a result. Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Piers Morgan passionately disagreed with the decision. "Let me help you Twitter," exclaimed Morgan on Monday morning's show, "if somebody sends a monkey emoji to a black footballer with a load of abuse, that is racism." "That's why they are doing it. And if you can't regulate yourselves, it's time that governments began to regulate you properly."

'Let me help you, if somebody sends a monkey emoji to a black footballer, that is racism.'

After social media companies said the monkey emoji does 'not violate any rules', @piersmorgan and @susannareid100 say it is clear racism and there needs to be regulation. pic.twitter.com/qS66F0g6Zd — Good Morning Britain (@GMB) February 8, 2021

Morgan's co-host Susannah Ried referenced Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi, who had spoken out against Twitter's decision. "How can that make sense?" Huson-Odoi told beIN Sport. "If somebody puts for example, a monkey emoji towards a player - why is that? How is a player a monkey? What does that mean to a player?"

"So for us seeing stuff like that it always makes us angry. Are you saying that because of our skin colour? Because of the colour that we are? Or are you just saying that because you just want to be, you think that you're funny or you want to get a laugh out of people?"

"No one laughs at that sort of situation. All of us take that personally as a team and as players. We have to do something about it. Because obviously, as I said, racism won't stop."

Piers Morgan also spoke out about The Only Way Is Essex star Gemma Collins receiving death threats on social media, after it was announced she would appear on Morgan's Life Stories show. "No one should have to put up with people on Twitter spewing the vile abuse and death threats that they have been spewing at Gemma Collins," said Morgan.

‘She shouldn’t have to have people wishing her dead with no repercussions.’

We are focusing on online trolling this morning. @Piersmorgan reveals the obscene abuse @missgemcollins received the moment he said she would be featuring on the new series of Life Stories. pic.twitter.com/h44Kebzect — Good Morning Britain (@GMB) February 8, 2021