Piers Morgan and Ben Shapiro Clash Over Criticism of Israel

Piers Morgan has publicly criticized Ben Shapiro for his inability to accept criticism of the Israeli government. This conflict escalated after Morgan hosted Dave Smith, a prominent critic of Israel, on his show, "Piers Morgan Uncensored." Shapiro, co-founder of The Daily Wire, responded by labeling Morgan as "the Jerry Springer of political television" and accused him of undermining the industry by featuring controversial guests. Morgan's rebuttal highlighted Shapiro's discomfort with dissenting views regarding Israel.

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The tension between Morgan and Shapiro is not new; it has roots in their previous interactions, including a notable 2013 debate on gun control during Morgan's CNN show, where Shapiro accused him of exploiting tragedies for political gain. Their disagreements have continued over the years, particularly regarding Israel's actions in Gaza. Morgan noted that Shapiro ceased appearing on his show and stopped responding to his communications after Morgan became more critical of Israel's government.

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In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Morgan expressed his frustration with being labeled anti-Semitic for criticizing Israel. He stated, “I just don’t understand why I can’t criticise Israel’s govt without being branded anti-Semitic.” He emphasized his commitment to critiquing all governments, including his own, and found it absurd that his criticisms of Israel elicited such strong reactions from Shapiro.

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Shapiro's supporters may argue that his defense of Israel is rooted in a broader context of national security and the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Critics of Morgan's approach might contend that his platforming of voices critical of Israel could contribute to anti-Israel sentiment, which they view as harmful.

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• “If people are curious why @benshapiro has suddenly turned on me, this may explain it… the guy just can’t take anyone criticising Israel’s govt.” — Piers Morgan

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• “I just don’t understand why I can’t criticise Israel’s govt without being branded anti-Semitic or having the likes of @benshapiro throwing their petulant toys out of the stroller.” — Piers Morgan

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• “Ben was a regular guest on @PiersUncensored – but from the moment I became more critical of the Israeli Govt for its conduct in the war in Gaza, he stopped coming on, stopped replying to my texts, and now publicly attacks my show,” — Piers Morgan

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As the discourse surrounding Israel continues to be a contentious issue, further exchanges between Morgan and Shapiro are likely. Their ongoing conflict may serve as a microcosm of the broader debates occurring in media and public opinion regarding Israel and its policies.

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