Daily Star

PIERS: MY CAZ HELL

Piers ‘ was blamed over Flack’s death’

- By ISOBEL HINE news@ dailystar. co. uk

PIERS Morgan has spoken out about the abuse he received after Caroline Flack’s death.

The Good Morning Britain presenter, 55, says the tirade of hate he was sent following Caroline’s suicide in February had a real impact on his own mental health.

In his new book Wake Up, the opinionate­d journalist admitted that the backlash he received for paying tribute to the 2014 Strictly winner after her death was “hurtful”.

Piers wrote: “The court of public opinion instantly delivered another verdict: I was to blame for Caroline’s suicide. Yes, me, someone who had tried to help her privately and publicly through her darkest time, and who had never written or said a bad word about her in my life.”

While Piers admitted that he had written and published “many negative stories about other celebritie­s” in the past, the online abuse that he received after Caroline’s death impacted him massively.

He added: “Caroline was a friend of mine and I had nothing to do with her death, so the ferocious outpouring of abuse suggesting I did is as wrong as it is hurtful.”

Piers, who is well- known for his thick skin and feisty online presence, felt shaken after being targeted by the trolls.

He said: “I feel desperatel­y saddened by her death and utterly enraged at being blamed for it.

“And what a sick irony that the very same keyboard warriors accusing people like me of hounding Caroline to her death are the people who incessantl­y post abuse to celebritie­s and people in the media – and who are right now busily hounding those same people online.”

● For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24- hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@ samaritans. org or go online to samaritans.org

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 ??  ?? ■ CLOSE: Piers was friends with TV star Caroline
■ CLOSE: Piers was friends with TV star Caroline

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