Piers Morgan Slammed for 'Crass and Tasteless' Tribute to Larry King

Celebrity By TooFab Staff |
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"Larry hated me replacing him at CNN and never made any secret of it," responded Morgan.

UPDATE 1/23/2021 10:15 AM

Piers Morgan is facing backlash after his tribute to Larry King, who passed away on Saturday, didn't sit well with some folks.

Taking to his Twitter account, the British broadcaster first posted a photo of the iconic talk show host with the caption, "RIP Larry King, 87. A television legend." But it was his second tweet that caused an uproar.

"Larry King was a hero of mine until we fell out after I replaced him at CNN & he said my show was 'like watching your mother-in-law go over a cliff in your new Bentley.' (He married 8 times so a mother-in-law expert) But he was a brilliant broadcaster & masterful TV interviewer."

Critics were quick to slam Morgan, as they pointed out his not-so-subtle shade.

"This is crass and tasteless, Piers. Why take personal shots at a time like this? Just say something kind. Or don't say anything. There's alway[s} that," tweeted BET host Marc Lamont Hill.

"The fact that you had to wait till Larry king passed to post this drivel speaks volumes of your character," one fan wrote, as another shared, "Pathetic. Always has been. You failed at @CNN after LK and returned to the UK. Miserably."

Back in 2011, Morgan took over for King on CNN, but "Piers Morgan Live" was given the axe in 2014 due to poor ratings.

The current co-anchor for "Good Morning Britain" wouldn't back down, however, after a supporter tweeted, "This is honest and you still found a way to keep it respectful.  I appreciate it. Hate phony stuff."

"Me too," Morgan responded. "Larry hated me replacing him at CNN and never made any secret of it, which I found very sad because he was one of my heroes - but I still think he was a superb broadcaster & one of the all-time TV greats."

ORIGINAL STORY 1/23/2021 7:46 AM

Legendary talk show host Larry King died Saturday at the age of 87.

"With profound sadness, Ora Media announces the death of our co-founder, host, and friend Larry King, who passed away this morning at age 87 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles," a statement on his Twitter account read.

"For 63 years and across the platforms of radio, television and digital media, Larry's many thousands of interviews, awards, and global acclaim stand as a testament to his unique and lasting talent as a broadcaster."

The cause of his death has not been released at this time. He had been battling a number of health problems, including lung cancer in 2017 and undergoing a procedure for angina in 2019. On January 1, he was hospitalized for Covid-19.

With his affable demeaner, iconic guests and sartorial flair, King became a household name after hosting "Larry King Live" on CNN for 25 years.

"The scrappy young man from Brooklyn had a history-making career spanning radio and television. His curiosity about the world propelled his award-winning career in broadcasting, but it was his generosity of spirit that drew the world to him," CNN President Jeff Zucker said in a statement.

Hollywood also mourned the loss of the inimitable host, as tributes poured in over social media.

"I loved the easy breezy format of his CNN show, and his amazing voice," tweeted Andy Cohen.

Wendy Williams shared, "Sad news this morning. TV broadcasting legend Larry King has passed away. He was 87. #RIP," said Wendy Williams.

"Just heard the awful news about Larry King. He taught me so much. He was a true mensch. He probably even taught me that word," wrote Craig Ferguson. "So long pal, thanks for all the laughs. Say hi to Rickles."

King is survived by his estranged wife Shawn and three of his five children: Larry King Jr., Chance and Cannon.

Keep reading for more celebrity tributes, below.