Piers Morgan sparks complaints by eating burger in front of vegan

Piers Morgan’s TalkTV show has sparked Ofcom complaints after the presenter made a point of scoffing a beef burger during an interview with a member of an animal rights group.

We’re sure we don’t need to tell you that Piers is known for getting in the odd spot of controversy. So, it’ll come as no surprise to anyone that he took the opportunity to chow down on the meaty offering during a debate with vegan interviewee, Orla Coghlan.

You can watch the clip below: 

The moment happened on Piers’ show, Piers Morgan Uncensored, which took place on the 7th of September.

Orla works for Animal Rebellion, and was speaking to Piers about their Plant-Based Future campaign, which saw her disrupt the supply of the UK’s dairy in order to make a point.

Trying to catch Orla out, Piers said he believed her to be hypocritical for eating almonds and avocados, given their environmental impact, but protest so passionately about dairy.

But as Orla tried to respond, Piers refused to listen, instead interjecting: “Anyway, look, I’m starving,” as a delivery person entered to the side of the stage with a McDonald’s takeaway bag in hand.

Piers Morgan scoffed the burger in front of a vegan guest (Credit: Talk TV)

“My response to you destroying all these things is to have a Big Mac,” he went on, before eating the burger as Orla looked on.

“Because, do you know what, it’s a free country. It’s a democracy, and I’m allowed to eat meat”.

At this point we should be fair and add that whilst Piers’ display was definitely inappropriate, the facts he raised about avocados and their environmental impact weren’t wrong.

However, as Plant Based News points out, the amount of water used in avocado and almond farming is significantly less than cattle farming.

Piers Morgan ordered a delivery to the studio (Credit: Talk TV)

In fact, a single avocado requires needs 140-272 litres of water to grow, whereas the same amount of beef needs 2,315 litres.

The publication also point out that beef farming is responsible for around a third of human-caused methane emissions and up to 91 percent of deforestation in the Amazon.

Responding to Piers’ furious display, it’s safe to say there was a passionate response online.

“Wow, most pathetic thing I’ve seen in months,” wrote one. “What a small man. To feel so attacked by people who inherently have the moral high ground.”

As another branded the moment “typical bully arsehole behaviour”.

Piers’ activist guest looked on as he chowed down on a Big Mac (Credit: Talk TV)

There were some who took a slightly less angry stance, with another writing: “I’m no fan of Piers but I did laugh when he took a bite out of that Big Mac”.

This isn’t the first time Piers has made his feelings about veganism known. He previously dubbed Greggs “PC-ravaged clowns” for launching a vegan sausage roll, and whilst debating vegan activist Joey Carbstrong in 2018, he famously branded vegans “terrorists.”

Piers also told a vegan guest on Good Morning Britain: “I’ve never met a healthy looking vegan… You’re a bit pale and you’re really angry.”

The ironic thing is, Piers’ vegan rants go so viral that he’s probably boosting the causes he’s slamming every time. Whatever your stance on Animal Rebellion and their protests, there’s no denying Piers has blasted them further onto everyone’s radar.