Ewan McGregor was set to appear on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday to promote the Trainspotting sequel T2, but he’s no longer willing to go on the show after he learned that he would be talking to host Piers Morgan.
The move, according to McGregor, was in response to Morgan’s controversial comments about the Women’s March on Washington over the weekend, which McGregor supported.
https://twitter.com/mcgregor_ewan/status/823805815488331776
As millions of men and women around the world took to the streets to protest President Donald Trump and his policies, Morgan posted a tweet calling the protesters “rabid feminists” and proposed a “Men’s March.” He was widely criticized for the comments—including by his own co-host, Susan Reid—and he later thought it was absurd that people took his comments seriously.
You know you sit next to a feminist every morning, right? @piersmorgan https://t.co/IAIq4kuCqE
— Susanna Reid (@susannareid100) January 21, 2017
Morgan called McGregor out for not appearing on his show, noting that he “should be big enough to allow people different political opinions.” He disagreed with the notion that McGregor bowing out was an instance of backlash against his views.
“Sorry that Ewan McGregor’s not here,” Morgan told his viewers. “He couldn’t bear the thought of being on the sofa with me because he doesn’t agree with me about the Women’s March.”
Sorry to hear that @mcgregor_ewan – you should be big enough to allow people different political opinions. You're just an actor after all.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 24, 2017
A real man would have come on and debated it with me, not run away like a coward. https://t.co/z5HmkFASwM
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 24, 2017
Morgan continued the conversation on Twitter for hours and vowed to write a column about McGregor refusing to do his show. Reid also expressed her disappointment about McGregor boycotting the show because of Morgan’s opinions on the Women’s March, and she’s been attacked for her co-hosts’ views.
Such a shame. Challenge views where there's difference. Would have liked to see that debate on air – it's an important one. #WomensMarch https://t.co/dSsMZ9mc46
— Susanna Reid (@susannareid100) January 24, 2017
I'm a feminist. #WomensMarch = powerful way to protest Trump's comments & highlight issues. But @piersmorgan's views are also widely held
— Susanna Reid (@susannareid100) January 24, 2017
Newsflash: I might be a feminist, and a strong woman, but I'm not a superhero with miracle powers.
— Susanna Reid (@susannareid100) January 24, 2017