In a compact control room filled with screens on a typical Monday afternoon in mid-November, a lively group of American analysts are passionately debating. The topic at hand is the election, and the atmosphere is charged. Vincent Oshana, a conservative comedian with flushed cheeks, jokes sarcastically, “I’m playing the smallest violin for all these tearful Democrats!” Not long after, Cenk Uygur, one of the founders of The Young Turks, forcefully reminds pollster Allan Lichtman that he was incorrect in his prediction of a Democratic win and suggests he should drink a tall glass of ‘shut-up juice’!
As a movie buff, imagine myself tuning into an intense political talk show that seems to be broadcast live from various locations across the U.S., but I soon realize it’s all being masterfully coordinated from London. The charismatic host and self-declared “maestro,” setting the agenda, occasionally stirring the pot with his guests, and enjoying the ensuing fireworks, is none other than Piers Morgan — a prominent and polarizing figure in the British media scene.
Morgan has ambitious ideas for his YouTube series titled “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” which is based at the famous “News Building” – a 17-story building close to The Shard skyscraper that accommodates Rupert Murdoch’s U.K. media empire (including The Sun and The Times). One of his main aspirations for this show is arranging an interview with Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the billionaire who has joined forces with Trump in a political context. Morgan proposes that they might even discuss their views together at the White House. “Perhaps having Trump and Musk together in an interview at the White House would be interesting,” Morgan muses from his dressing room before taping sessions featuring Oshana and Uygur (two of three debate segments filmed that day). As of now, both Trump and Musk have expressed their willingness to appear on “Uncensored,” according to Morgan, but no specific dates have been decided upon yet.
Donald Trump has previously been interviewed by Piers Morgan, most notably in early 2022 as the inaugural guest on “Uncensored.” During that time, this show played a significant role in the debut of TalkTV, Rupert Murdoch’s endeavor to introduce a Fox News-like network in the U.K. The interview was heavily publicized and considered a major coup. However, the conversation didn’t go smoothly, with Trump deciding to leave when questioned about his loss in the 2020 election. Later, Trump alleged that the footage had been manipulated – issuing a statement branding Morgan as part of the “fake news media” (as expected) – and audio released by his team seemed to support his allegation.
It’s also important to note that TalkTV didn’t fare well either. Back in April, the channel ceased operations due to poor ratings and a significant financial loss of approximately $110 million. Interestingly, “Uncensored,” sensing the direction things were taking, had already made a shift to YouTube weeks prior.
After transitioning to an online platform, the show has been free from television’s restrictions, allowing for extended, intense debates and interviews. This change has enabled Morgan, an accomplished interviewer, to invite high-profile guests such as Kevin Spacey, Armie Hammer, and Fiona Harvey – known for her role in “Baby Reindeer” on Netflix – which boosted the show’s popularity. Notably, Harvey’s appearance garnered 15 million views on YouTube and occurred shortly before she filed a $170 million defamation lawsuit against the streaming service. Morgan mentions that a lawyer who had previously been on the show expressed interest in representing her, suggesting a substantial financial settlement may be forthcoming.
In the White House, a collaboration between Trump and Musk would likely draw more viewers than Harvey. Morgan frequently boasts about his show’s viewership, as he can’t manipulate the figures because they are publicly displayed and updated in real time beneath each video. “We just hit two million views with our last content; before that it was a million, then another million, followed by two million again, two million, one-and-a-half million, nearly four-and-a-half million, a million, another million,” he says. “I can’t think of anyone on YouTube in the news, interview, or opinion genre, other than Joe Rogan, who gets numbers like that.
Morgan frequently displays an overt self-admiration (he’s talking in a room adorned with numerous framed newspaper and magazine covers, most showcasing his face), yet there’s a valid explanation for his need to boast – “Uncensored” is something he has staked a significant portion of his personal savings on.
The 59-year-old has continued to reinvent himself, bouncing back from scandals and setbacks. He was dismissed as editor of The Mirror due to the publication of fake Iraq War photos during a time that also involved him in the phone-hacking scandal. Subsequently, he transitioned to TV, where his show “Piers Morgan Live” on CNN, which replaced “Larry King Live,” was terminated after three years due to low ratings. More recently, he resigned before being dismissed as co-host on ITV’s popular morning program “Good Morning Britain” amidst criticism over his harsh comments about Meghan Markle. His controversial remarks about Meghan Markle in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, where he questioned her honesty regarding experiencing racism within the royal family and walked off set during a debate, appeared to be his final act for some.
After an incident several months ago, Morgan was hailed as a star by Murdoch and given a three-year contract worth over $60 million to join TalkTV – a move that would have made him the highest paid journalist in the U.K., according to his own words (he’d be disappointed if it weren’t).
Now that the deal has been finalized, he’s shouldered the entire responsibility. From January 1st, Wake Up Productions, Morgan’s production company, became the proprietor of the “Uncensored” venture, effectively separating it from Murdoch’s domain. There was no exchange of money during this acquisition. Instead, as compensation for the YouTube channel and all prior content, News UK will receive a portion of its advertising earnings until 2029. In essence, Morgan has gained autonomy.
Despite not being as sensational, Morgan’s resilience, similar to Trump’s, remains remarkable. Interestingly, it’s Trump who is fueling Morgan’s optimism about his return to internet fame. “The election served as validation that I made the right decision,” Morgan remarks about his shift towards digital media. “YouTube was where most people watched the coverage. It outperformed cable and broadcast – a significant turning point.
On November 5th alone, over 45 million Americans tuned into election-related content on YouTube, whereas approximately 42.29 million viewers were simultaneously watching across 18 different cable and broadcast networks, as per Nielsen’s report. This data supports Morgan’s claim.
It’s now commonly accepted that it wasn’t just the Democratic party who lost the election; many traditional pundits also missed predicting the outcome. This inaccuracy has led to a significant decrease in viewership of traditional media, with audiences shifting towards podcasts, YouTube, and other alternative sources at an increasing rate. The most influential moment of Trump’s campaign, according to some experts, was his appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, which was listened to or watched by over 40 million people prior to Nov. 5. This event is considered “very clever” because there is no traditional network or cable equivalent with a similar scale.
Morgan has reconciled with the president, who he’s been acquainted with since winning “The Apprentice: Celebrity Edition” in 2008 – a fact that resurfaced after their disagreement in 2022. It was Trump himself who reached out to patch things up, making it seem as though their argument never occurred.
Before the election, I had a conversation with Trump and expressed my belief that he would emerge victorious. We spoke again before November 5th, following which I praised his courage on Fox News after the assassination attempt, and he called me in response. (“He was thrilled by it all,” I said, “so he reached out to me.”) Our conversation took place on the morning of November 6th. Even Trump himself was taken aback by the magnitude of his victory.
Given that Trump has returned to the White House, is he no longer the “dangerous, deluded, despicable lunatic” described by Morgan in The Daily Mail on Jan. 7, 2021, following the Capitol attack, or someone who should be removed from office immediately as previously suggested?
As a film critic, I’ve had my ups and downs with Trump, but lately, things seem to be heating up again between us. There are numerous aspects about him that I find truly impressive, and despite my belief that his political career should have ended after the events of January 6, it’s hard not to admire his resurgence. He’s managed to prove me wrong, and many others, too.
In my role as a movie reviewer, I’ve had mixed feelings about Trump, but recently, our relationship seems to be getting warmer. There are several traits of his that I find remarkable, and although I thought he was finished politically after January 6, it’s tough not to appreciate his comeback. He’s demonstrated that he can outsmart even the skeptics like me.
As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I’m fully aware that being on Trump’s good side as he regains power could be advantageous for my show, “Uncensored.” I view our program as a significant force in the vibrant new-media sphere teeming with MAGA-aligned commentators. Among them, Joe Rogan stands out, but there are others like Ben Shapiro, Meghan Kelly, and Tucker Carlson who are also making their mark on YouTube. Like many of these personalities, I gained prominence through cable news and television. However, with the exception of Rogan, I believe our show ranks second in popularity among them. “Feel free to verify this for yourself,” I say, “but I think we’re No. 2.”
Rogan is someone Morgan, who openly expresses disdain for “woke” liberal views, often likens himself to. However, according to him, people have difficulty understanding Rogan’s political stance because they try to label him as far-right, which isn’t accurate. Instead, he argues that Rogan isn’t a conservative at heart. In fact, Rogan has shown support for Bernie Sanders, indicating his complexity. Similarly, Morgan identifies himself in the same way.
As a follower, I find Shapiro, the conservative pundit, less complex in his political views compared to many. His vision for The Daily Wire, which he founded, is now being mirrored by Morgan with live shows, books, documentaries, movies, and merchandise. He’s awed by the financial success of The Daily Wire, even from something as simple as hair gel – they make millions! Likewise, I too am open to exploring various avenues for monetization, including merchandising – there isn’t a single merchandising opportunity I wouldn’t consider.
In the future, as traditional media fades, he asserted, we’ll see a rise in influential figures like myself who have substantial YouTube audiences, strong sales and marketing teams, and commercial acumen. My aim is no longer just to be a hired talent; instead, I want to establish a genuine media brand business.
And now, for the first time since the start of his career almost 40 years ago, Morgan isn’t.
He considers it a calculated risk to no longer receive income from News Corp and work independently, especially after acquiring ‘Uncensored.’ However, he emphasizes that the decision is less risky because they’ve been operating for nearly two and a half years already.
As a passionate film enthusiast, I found myself engaged in cordial conversations about retaining “Uncensored” within the News UK realm as my contract approached its three-year expiration in December. They were more inclined towards a talent fee arrangement, but that wasn’t a path I was keen on pursuing anymore. Instead, I expressed my desire to venture out and create something of my own. My ambition is to make this YouTube channel the global leader in news, debate, opinion, and interview content. I truly believe we have a strong opportunity to achieve this goal.
As a film enthusiast, I’ve always been drawn to the idea of providing a voice to the controversial, often shunned by mainstream media. It seems my disdain for permanent cancellations has led me to invite such figures onto “Uncensored.” I believe in offering them a stage, as I find it ludicrous that we condemn them forever without room for redemption or dialogue. I’m not a fan of our current society that’s grown so rigid and unforgiving, where one mistake can lead to total destruction with no chance for rehabilitation.
I find it gratifying that numerous interviews on my show have gained significant attention. For instance, Kevin Spacey (with 2.9 million views) and Armie Hammer (2.2 million), whom I refer to as individuals who’ve been “cancelled without ever committing a crime,” I am content for “Uncensored” to play a role in their journey towards redemption. Interestingly, months after our encounter, Mr. Hammer secured his first acting gig in three years, following the sexual assault allegations, which underscores the potential impact of this platform.
However, there has been debate about Morgan’s selection of guests. The Guardian characterized Harvey’s presence as “grubby exploitation” and “gleefully showcasing a mentally ill woman.” Nevertheless, Morgan defends his actions, stating, “I believe she was fully entitled to express her views and she was content with how the interview unfolded.
He has acknowledged that certain interviews he conducted exceeded bounds. In October, Morgan issued an apology following his broadcast of unfounded accusations against Jay-Z and Beyonce, which were made by Jaguar Wright during a discussion about Sean Combs’ arrest. Shortly afterward, Morgan terminated an interview with Dan Bilzerian when the social media influencer, who was previously known for promoting a playboy lifestyle, transitioned from criticizing Israel’s conflict with Gaza to blatant antisemitism, suggesting Jewish supremacy as the “gravest danger to our world.
Initially caught off guard by Bilzerian’s statements (“He suddenly became very aggressive”), Morgan wonders why he invited him on his show in the first place, but he stands by his decision. He explains that they provided a crucial public service by showing the true nature of Bilzerian, and clarifies that he has no intention of stirring up anger for the sake of creating controversy. The interview with Bilzerian currently has over 2.4 million views.
Uncensored’s main focus is provocation, but Morgan has been trying to reduce this on his other social media platforms. He humorously mentions that he’s been attending “Twitter anger-management sessions,” and although he might still make the occasional sharp comment, his frequent online arguments are a thing of the past. In his own words, he describes himself as “a bit more calm and thoughtful.
There’s less discussion these days about the activities of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who were once frequently criticized. ” frankly, I can’t be bothered with them anymore,” he admits. “I believe most people feel the same way. The whole thing has become dull and repetitive. They seem to have faded into obscurity. And when you spend so much time attacking your own family, eventually you run out of things to say. It’s reached its end.
If that’s true, would he still have them on his show if the opportunity arose?
“Meghan and Harry uncensored?” he says, clicks clearly in his sights. “Bring it on!”
Read More
- SUI PREDICTION. SUI cryptocurrency
- „People who loved Dishonored and Prey are going to feel very at home.” Arkane veteran sparks appetite for new, untitled RPG
- LDO PREDICTION. LDO cryptocurrency
- Destiny 2: A Closer Look at the Proposed In-Game Mailbox System
- Clash Royale Deck Discussion: Strategies and Sentiments from the Community
- Jennifer Love Hewitt Made a Christmas Movie to Help Process Her Grief
- ICP PREDICTION. ICP cryptocurrency
- Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic Was Inspired By Akira And Cowboy Bebop
- Critics Share Concerns Over Suicide Squad’s DLC Choices: Joker, Lawless, and Mrs. Freeze
- EUR IDR PREDICTION
2025-01-08 19:47