Good Morning Britain viewers have been left furious after the programme’s official X (Twitter) account labelled conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead this week, “far-right”.
Posting a clip of a debate involving hosts Kate Garraway and Rob Rinder with guests, journalist Salma Shah and former Labour minister Caroline Flint, the post read: “Following the death of far-right influencer Charlie Kirk, @RobbieRinder, @KateGarraway, @CarolineFlint, and @Ommasalma discuss the importance of understanding different perspectives.”
The debate centred on the concerning trend of society seemingly being unable to accept differing viewpoints, with Oxford University’s president George Abaraonye having posted comments appearing to celebrate Mr Kirk’s fatal shooting, which happened in public on Wednesday in the US.
The segment of the show saw Ms Garraway state: “Charlie Kirk, a lot of people were very upset by what he said.
“A lot of people that we know, even Good Morning Britain, find the things he said very upsetting. But the fact that he took on the debate – is that something that we should be silencing?”
“No, we shouldn’t,” Ms Flint replied, adding: “And too often on difficult issues, it’s almost like the discussion is suppressed.
“People don’t want to talk about it, and some of the politicians contribute to that as well.
“And then the other side of this, it does feel more toxic than ever before and part of that is social media, it acts as an amplifier.
“It has created ever more echo chambers, and in echo chambers, people only listen to people [who] are saying the same thing as them.”
“And the algorithm delivers them,” presenter Ms Garraway interjected to point out.
“It delivers them,” Ms Flint agreed. “You get more of that stuff. You get connected to people.
“And, you know, I think the young person at the Oxford Union – grow up, you know.”
“Well, it’s worse than ‘grow up’,” Mr Rinder interrupted as Ms Garraway agreed: “It’s worse than ‘grow up’.”
Mr Rinder shared: “My grandfather was a Holocaust survivor. He used to take my brother and I to Speakers’ Corner, and we would listen to the worst anti-Semitic bile.
“And he’d say to me and my brother, ‘You see, this is a gift of this country. This man can say what he wants.’
“The tragedy and the situation we’re in now is that every time someone like Charlie Kirk goes on, or did go to a college campus, or if it’s somebody you disagree with on the left or the right, what are they? What do they become – a Nazi.
“When they fly an English flag, they’re a Nazi. Now, what’s response to a Nazi? This is a very easy binary.
“They are a morally wicked person, and if you’re a deranged individual, what do you do to cure that problem? And so the conversation now doesn’t exist in a space of goodwill anymore, but that’s it exists in destroying people.”
Ms Flint noted: “But that’s also about – what do we do in terms of education and awareness of our children and young people about being able to explore, you know, through discussion, through debate, about applying some of these terms, like Nazi, as a throwaway almost to anybody you disagree with?
“It actually undermines what the Nazis did during World War Two and before it. And something about our young people at university who are not applying their critical thinking – which is one of the valuable aspects of going to university.
Ms Shah added: “Yes, and this is the whole this was the whole issue around cancel culture, is that immediately, just something that is disagreed with, that person who has expressed a view that is contrary to the mainstream, perhaps or is asking a question, is then therefore not allowed to participate in society, not allowed to participate in conversation.”
While the majority of viewers seemed to agree with the comments put forward, they were furious at the phrasing of the Good Morning Britain post.
One penned: “‘Far-right’ give yourselves a shake,” while another added: Far right’?? Have a word.”
A third fumed: “This is outrageous. Far right? He was a Christian man will beliefs which transcended and reach across all religions.
“A solid man, encouraged debate and conversation with those who oppose him. Shame on you for continuing this rhetoric that encourages violence again right wing political commentators.”
“He was conservative, he was not “’far right,'” another agued.
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“He wasn’t far right, just right. Shame on all of you,” another X user wrote.
“Far Right..?? In that case that makes @gmb Far Left… fair’s fair….” another added.
“Pleased I stopped watching GMB,” someone else commented.
However, others gave a different view, with one adding: “Understanding different perspectives is grand, but let’s not forget some opinions are just nonsense wrapped in a pretty bow.” (sic)
