GOOD Morning Britain has been rocked by hundreds of Ofcom complaints after Richard Madeley clashed with President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali, over slavery reparations.
The South American leader said people still benefited from "the greatest indignity to the human being" during a discussion on the show last week and demanded the UK pay compensation after a UN report called on countries to consider it.
Madeley, 67, was furious by Mr Ali's suggestions and hit back, asking: "Why people should carry the burden?"
He later thumped his desk and continued to berate the President, adding: "You think the British Royal Family should make a big gesture, don't you?
"Would you like them to give you a Palace?"
Mr Ali, speaking from New York where he was due to address the UN on the topic that day, said he simply wanted "justice".
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He said: "Well no, we don't want the British to hand over a palace that we built.
"If you go to many of the palaces in Britain, you'll see the lovely hard work from Guyana. You will see the sweat, tears and blood of the slaves who were exploited, and the revenue that was earnt from the exploitation. So we're not asking for a palace; we're asking for justice."
But Madeley argued: "How far back do we have to go on this?
"We are speaking exclusively on Western imperialistic slavery to summarise, but almost every civilisation on the planet owes its existence and prosperity almost always to crimes, in the past.."
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To which Mr Ali replied: "I think you're doing a great injustice to compare slavery with any other historical facts that you are mentioning.
"It is a great injustice to the indignity that slavery brought to people."
Madeley was soon criticised for his “patronising” treatment of the guest last week and 334 viewers took their complaints to the TV watchdog.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, during the episode which aired last week, one viewer said: "Richard Madeley was so ignorant and disrespectful to the president of a Guyana."
Another said: "Who does Richard Madeley think he is? Slamming his hand down on the desk and talking to the president of Guyana in such a rude and disrespectful manner."
A third said: "Richard Madeley, a breakfast news show host, talking down to and mocking the PRESIDENT of another country with a pompous fake laugh. The disrespect and entitlement is insane."
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