Piers Morgan Slams ‘Pathetically Disingenuous’ X Commentator Who Accused Ex-BBC Star Gary Lineker of Anti-Semitism
Piers Morgan came to the defense of sports broadcaster and former soccer star Gary Lineker after he was ousted from several gigs in the wake of a controversial post critics have called anti-Semitic.
The BBC announced this week that Lineker will step down from his presenter role for them and he will also no longer be part of the coverage for the 2026 World Cup. The athlete apologized for a social media post about Zionism that contained an image of a rat, something critics were quick to point out has been historically used to insult and attack Jewish people.
Lineker profusely denied any anti-Semitic feelings were behind his post.
“I care deeply about the game, and about the work I’ve done with the BBC over many years. As I’ve said, I would never consciously repost anything anti-Semitic — it goes against everything I stand for,” he said in a statement on Monday. “However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.”
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Morgan took to X to make light of the situation and defend his “good mate.”
Delighted to announce that I’ve hired a new personal cook. Welcome, Chef [Gary Lineker] — I’ve heard great things about what a decent, loyal, talented, entertaining bloke you are…just no social media posting while you’re in the kitchen please,” Morgan wrote.
Included is an image of Morgan and Lineker in a kitchen.
The post stirred some outrage, with one X troll mocking Morgan for hanging with a man who compared “Jews to rats.”
“Oh okay, just hanging out with a man that shares videos comparing Jews to rats,” the critic wrote. “A big flex for you.”
“It was a mistake. You know that, I know that, and any attempt to suggest otherwise is pathetically disingenuous,” Morgan responded about his friend’s post. “And I’ll hang out with Gary whenever he likes because he’s been a good mate to me, and I know he isn’t anti-Semitic.”
