Piers Morgan Apologizes to Novak Djokovic for Criticizing Him for Not Getting COVID Vaccine: ‘I Was Very Censorious’

Piers Morgan kicked off his new interview with Novak Djokovic on Tuesday by apologizing for criticizing the tennis legend for not getting vaccinated for COVID-19 a few years ago.

“I’m going to start by making an apology. And it’s for this, is I was very censorious about you over the COVID scandal that you got caught up in,” Morgan said on his program, Piers Morgan Uncensored, on YouTube.

He explained that he felt Djokovic, based on the reports at the time, had tried to “bend the rules” to play in the Australian Open in 2022 without getting vaccinated.

Djokovic was forced to stay in an immigration hotel for five days while he appealed to play in the tournament, but his visa was ultimately canceled by Australian authorities, and he was booted from the country.

Morgan celebrated his banishment at the time.

“BREAKING: Covid rule cheat, immigration form liar, & anti-vaxxer icon Novak Djokovic loses final appeal against deportation & will be thrown out of Australia without being able to compete in Aus Open. Good,” Morgan posted on X in early 2022, as well as three clapping emojis.

Djokovic returned to the Australian Open in 2023 and won for a 10th time, but he said earlier this year he still feels “trauma” from the event whenever he goes to Australia.

Morgan on Tuesday said he was “too tough” on Djokovic and others who did not get the vaccine.

“Once it became clear that if you had the vaccine, it made no difference [as] to whether you could then transmit the virus, clearly, at that point for me, it becomes a personal choice,” Morgan said.

He explained that he knew several people in his life who had suffered badly from COVID-19, and that led to him being critical.

“It felt quite personal, it felt quite visceral to me. But I was too censorious,” Morgan said.

Morgan added a moment later: “I would like to say I’m sorry for the intemperate language I used against you. Because I didn’t know you.”

Djokovic took the apology well, saying, “I appreciate that very much.” He also said he respected Morgan for the apology and he had been looking forward to speaking to him — even before the apology.

The tennis star — who has won a record 24 Grand Slam men’s titles — said he did not want to “dig deeper” on the topic too much.

But he said he wanted to make one thing clear:”I was never a proponent of anti-vax or pro-vax. I was always freedom of choice.”

Watch above, via YouTube.