British journalist Piers Morgan got slammed on Twitter on Wednesday for mocking India’s Olympics performance.
It started with a tweet on Wednesday afternoon where Morgan called India’s celebration of silver medalist PV Sindhu and bronze medalist Sakshi Malik “embarrassing”.
Country with 1.2 billion people wildly celebrates 2 losing medals. How embarrassing is that? https://t.co/FYSBM7ErAf
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) August 24, 2016
The backlash from Indian Twitterati was quick, with writer Chetan Bhagat also joining the fray.
What is even more embarrassing are your snivelling interviews as if you had a diaper in your mouth. Sad. https://t.co/9jf55sBwAU
— SUHEL SETH (@suhelseth) August 24, 2016
That's quite evident. What a miserable life you lead. Interviewing famous people and then trying to be famous. Sad. https://t.co/FpSqWNtjdm
— SUHEL SETH (@suhelseth) August 24, 2016
We honor achievers Peirs. Top 3 in the world,despite 3rd world sports facilities isn't loser.It is freaking amazing! https://t.co/pbFuP0Hmky
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) August 24, 2016
.@piersmorgan Piers, population size has literally no correlation to sporting success at all.
— Jack Mendel (@Mendelpol) August 24, 2016
About as embarrassing as being the citizen of a country that explicitly adds "Great" to its name. https://t.co/SwWcdwNS5c
— Abhishek Madan (@abhishekmadan) August 24, 2016
@piersmorgan So much noise about English football, yet nothing worthwhile since 1966. How embarrassing is that?
— Bodhisattva Sen Roy (@insenroy) August 24, 2016
But Morgan was undeterred and replied to many with sarcastic tweets like these.
I know how to spell your name.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) August 24, 2016
It was a little joke because you didn't know how to spell mine.... https://t.co/s7sKUecDyW
That's OK mate, we're still trying to locate your athletes. https://t.co/POJZRAtrjN
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) August 24, 2016
At least you'll never have to worry about being one of my interviewees, Suhel.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) August 24, 2016
I only interview famous people. https://t.co/yPGf3TLtNr
How did you get a blue tick with 286 followers? No wonder you celebrate silver & bronze medals. https://t.co/yeNMtQ1Af0
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) August 24, 2016
About an hour ago he made a similar tweet, calling out the apparent disproportionality between India’s population and the number of Olympic medals won.
1,200,000,000 people and not a single Gold medal at the Olympics?
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) August 24, 2016
Come on India, this is shameful.
Put the bunting away & get training.
India's the fastest growing economy on the planet. Stop whining & get training. https://t.co/AZDcb0XOWD
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) August 24, 2016
… And got trolled some more.
What people do to get more attention ?
— Justo Joseph (@justinnen) August 24, 2016
Watch @piersmorgan and learn.
Dear Piers Morgan, if Indians shudn't celebrate 2 medals,then British shud commit suicide in shame for being 3rd despite looting whole world
— SecularScientist (@SwarupPhD) August 24, 2016
How could anyone take a person with the name "Piers Morgan" seriously? Piers is old school British Upper Class to the nth degree. #India
— Fierce Dinosaur (@FierceDinosaur) August 24, 2016
People getting furious with Piers Morgan.
— Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) August 24, 2016
Hilarious.
Guys, this is what he does.
He's a professional troll.
He's KRK with a British accent.
Imagine actually getting irked by Piers Morgan. He's like a pre pubescent boy incapable of listening to a different opinion.
— Aakriti Mehrotra (@Aakriti1) August 24, 2016
We cherish every small happiness',
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 24, 2016
But Eng who invented Cricket,&yet2win a WC,still continue to playWC.Embarrassing? https://t.co/0mzP4Ro8H9
Some however, were clearly on Morgan's side.
Am I only one who secretly agrees on some/almost all of what Piers Morgan said about #IND?
— Pranay (@npranay180) August 24, 2016
Hate witnessing embarrassments on global stage.
Now if trolling was in the Olympics ...........We might be onto something here #worldleaders https://t.co/NKWhVj4w7u
— David 'Bumble' Lloyd (@BumbleCricket) August 24, 2016
Looks like Indian twitter has met its match in @piersmorgan.
— Sruthijith (@sruthijith) August 24, 2016
But Morgan is clearly not giving up and even pulled Sachin Tendulkar’s name into it.
Dear Indian Twitter, @sachin_rt only follows 77 people & I am one of them. Do the maths. #Winners
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) August 24, 2016
If India can produce a batsman as brilliant as @sachin_rt then it can produce Gold medal winning Olympians. Needs investment & focus.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) August 24, 2016
Nobody in this photo ever celebrated losing. Fact. @sachin_rt @KP24 @BrianLara #murali pic.twitter.com/REPyQhLpFS
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) August 24, 2016
He went a step ahead when someone pointed out he was trending on the second place in India.
Only trending in Silver place?
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) August 24, 2016
Not happy.
Come on #India, get me to Gold. pic.twitter.com/DMY47BsvX9