While speaking at SXSW London on Thursday, Piers Morgan said he was “a bit disappointed” in the organization’s reaction to left-wing commentator Cenk Uygur being barred from entering the U.K.
Uygur and his nephew, Hasan Piker — who were both scheduled to speak at SXSW London — were barred from entering the U.K. by the Home Office on Monday.
In a statement on X, Uygur wrote: “I’ve been banned from the U.K. I tried to get on a flight to London to attend SXSW London and give a speech at Oxford. I’ve been banned for criticizing Israel. Are we free anymore? This is oppression of Western citizens by our own governments on behalf of a different country!”
A spokesperson SXSW London responded by saying, “We are aware that Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker are unable to travel to the U.K. following a decision by the Home Office. They will therefore not be participating in the SXSW London programme this year. Decisions on entry to the UK are a matter for the Home Office and the individuals concerned. SXSW London’s role is to convene a broad range of diverse voices and perspectives. We remain focused on delivering a programme this week fostering open dialogue and exchange of ideas and featuring more than 800 speakers, artists and screenings.”
Speaking at a panel at the festival alongside singer Katherine Jenkins on Thursday, Morgan said: “Cenk Uygur, who is a regular guest on my show, was banned from entering the country. He was supposed to do Oxford Union and this event as well, and the Oxford Union raced to defend him and this organization didn’t. I’m a bit disappointed by that, and I’m using my right to say that at their own event.”
He continued, “But it would have been quite nice for them to stand up actually for free speech and demand that Cenk Uygur be allowed in the country and come and debate here and express himself in a free democratic manner, if we believe that our country is a free democratic country.”
Morgan asserted that Uygur’s ban was “actually because he’s quite critical of the Israeli government,” adding: “Well, so am I. Am I going to get banned? … They could have stood up for saying, actually he should have been allowed to come in.”
When asked for comment by Variety, a SXSW spokesperson said: “The fact that Piers Morgan used a SXSW London stage to challenge SXSW London demonstrates the festival’s role as a platform that holds space for a broad range of diverse voices and perspectives. We strongly support Piers Morgan exercising his right to freedom of expression, including when that involves criticizing SXSW London. We remain committed to fostering open dialogue and the exchange of ideas across our program.”
Elsewhere in the talk, Morgan waded into the debate around public figures and privacy, taking aim at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle — who’ve just posted a picture of their daughter Lilibet’s 5th birthday earlier today on social media, while repeatedly speaking out about the dangers of exposing children online.
“That is a classic example of the kind of double standard that I think is ridiculous,” Morgan said. “If you’re going to start preaching about stuff, at least try and live up to it. Don’t immediately do something which is the complete opposite of what you’ve been preaching.”
He said he had more sympathy for public figures who “never sell their privacy at all in wanting to be left alone. I think that’s fair enough.”
SXSW London, now in its second year, runs June 1–6 in Shoreditch.
