Complaints over Good Morning Britain's 'gay conversion' interview
- Published
Hundreds of viewers have complained after Good Morning Britain aired an interview with a therapist who claimed he can make some gay people straight.
Dr Michael Davidson appeared on Tuesday's show and said homosexuality is "an aberration", "a sin" and "in some cases reversible".
Hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid challenged him over his views.
Media regulator Ofcom said 466 people had complained that the ITV programme had given a platform to anti-gay views.
Good Morning Britain broadcast an investigation by journalist Josh Parry, who went undercover in a church in Liverpool to pose as a member of the public struggling with his sexuality.
He found the Mountain of Miracles and Fire Ministries in Anfield to be offering gay people the chance to "cure" themselves through prayer and fasting.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
That was followed by a discussion with Dr Davidson - who's not connected to the Mountain of Miracles and Fire Ministries - and who said there's no evidence that people are born gay.
During a heated debate, Morgan told him: "You know what we call these people?
"We call them horrible little bigots in the modern world. Bigoted people who talk complete claptrap and, in my view, a malevolent and dangerous part of our society."
Viewers have shared their thoughts on social media, with some saying the move was distasteful in light of an earlier interview in which Morgan confronted transgender model Munroe Bergdorf.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Good Morning Britain has since tweeted asking viewers whether controversial interviewees should be allowed on at all, even if they are challenged. ITV has not commented further.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Follow us on Facebook, external, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, external, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents, external. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.
- Published1 March 2013