Speaking at the SXSW festival in London on Thursday, Piers Morgan said he was "a little disappointed" with the organization's response to the UK ban on TV presenter Cenk Uygur.
On Monday, the UK Home Office banned Uyghur and his nephew, Hasan Picker, who were both scheduled to perform at the SXSW festival in London, from entering the UK.
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In his statement to X, Uygur wrote: "I was banned from entering the UK. I was trying to board a flight to London to attend SXSW London and give a speech at Oxford. I was banned for criticizing Israel. Are we still free? This is oppression of Western citizens by our own governments in the name of another country!"«
A representative of SXSW London responded: "We are aware that Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker are unable to travel to the UK following a decision by the Home Office. Therefore, they will not be participating in this year's SXSW London program. Decisions regarding entry into the UK are made by the Home Office and stakeholders. SXSW London's role is to bring together a diverse range of voices and perspectives. We remain focused on delivering a program this week that fosters open dialogue and the exchange of ideas, featuring over 800 speakers, artists, and screenings.".
Speaking at a festival panel discussion Thursday alongside singer Katherine Jenkins, Morgan said, "Cenk Uygur, who is a regular guest on my program, has been banned from entering the country. He was supposed to speak at the Oxford Union and at this event, and the Oxford Union rushed to his defense, but this organization didn't. I'm a little disappointed by that, and I exercise my right to say so at their own event. But it would be nice if they actually stood up for free speech and demanded that Cenk Uygur be allowed to enter the country, to come here, to debate, and to express himself in a free democratic manner, if we believe that this is a free democratic country.".
He continued: "It's really because he's quite critical of the Israeli government, and so am I. Are they going to ban me? ... They could have stood up and said he should have been allowed in.".
Representatives of SXSW London did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Variety about the comment.
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