This Morning presenter Andi Peters has responded after Miriam Margolyes used a racist term to describe his skin colour on the ITV show, sparking fury among viewers and prompting ITV to remove the clip from ITVX
Miriam Margolyes on This Morning(Image: ITV)
Andi Peters has spoken out following the furore sparked among viewers by Miriam Margolyes‘ comments directed at him on This Morning.
The Harry Potter actress, 85, sparked controversy after appearing on the ITV programme on Thursday, during which she used an offensive term to describe Andi Peters‘ skin colour.
Throughout the deeply uncomfortable interview, she questioned the presenter about “what accent would be normal” for him and proceeded to probe his ethnicity.
In the wake of the cringe-worthy exchange, fellow presenter Jeremy Vine reshared the footage, describing the moment as “seriously nerve-wracking” while commending how Andi handled the awkward situation.
The Channel 5 broadcaster wrote: “This is seriously nerve-wracking. No filter. @andipeters dealt with it brilliantly but note at the end – ‘they’re getting nervous.'”.
Andi expressed his gratitude to Jeremy for his support, writing: “Thanks JV. As you know we have to be ready for ANYTHING! ! !”.
Peters attempted to diffuse the situation by quipping his makeup artist had used a ‘lighter shade than normal’
Supporters rallied behind Andi Peters’ response, with one writing: “Legendary professional. Handled the situation with such grace.”
Another commented: “You’re wonderful and so polite.! I’ve actually seen you at WhiteCity House before.. and you have a lovely aura.”
A third wrote: “I literally cried. So not okay. I am an immigrant and I came to London early 90s. You Mr Peters are one of the people on TV who always brought a sunshine to my life on gloomy days. I learned English by watching you on TV and I still do. I am rooting for you and forever Andi’s Team! You handled it with more than grace.”
During the interview promoting her book, which was broadcast on Thursday’s programme, Miriam started analysing Christine Lampard’s Northern Irish accent before shifting her focus to her co-host, reports the Mirror.
“What accent would be normal for you? What are you?,” she questioned the 56-year-old, leaving him bewildered. The presenter replied: “This is normal. What am I? I’m me!”.
During the chat, Miriam began dissecting Christine Lampard’s Northern Irish accent before turning her attention to her co-host. Miriam proceeded to ask a series of questions which left Andi baffled(Image: Getty)
“You’re a mix, aren’t you? You’ve got a Black daddy and a white mummy,” she remarked. He clarified that both of his parents are Black, jokingly wondering whether his makeup artist had applied a “lighter shade than normal”.
“I think you’re high yella. That’s what they call it in America when someone isn’t deeply black,” she went on, with Andi joking that he “didn’t even know there were shades”.
The presenter then gestured to his earpiece and disclosed that bosses were stepping in, noting that they were “getting nervous”.
“There are shades and this is what we have to incorporate,” the Harry Potter actress continued. “Don’t be nervous, we welcome everybody. That’s what I want to write about in my book, it’s about inclusion.”
The Merriam-Webster US dictionary defines the expression – occasionally spelt high yaller – as a dated and often offensive piece of slang used to describe a black person with a light complexion.
ITV bosses have yet to release a statement regarding the segment but the offensive footage has been deleted from the episode on ITVX. However, the remainder of her interview still remains available.
Miriam Margolyes. (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
Viewers were left shocked by the segment and immediately took to social media, with one describing the term as “super racist” and numerous others demanding further action be taken.
One individual posted on social media: “That Miriam Margoyles clip is just about the cringiest thing I’ve ever seen. It’s like a scene out of The Office.”
Another concurred: “I do not accept that it’s just her age or character. She uses words and phrases that are totally unacceptable. I hope #thismorning never brings her back on the show.”
One wrote: “That Miriam Margolyes interview is the most uncomfortable thing to sit through what the hell was she thinking.”
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