Piers Morgan talks feud with Larry King after host, 87, dies ‘He hated me replacing him’
Piers Morgan #PiersMorgan
Larry King: Talk show host announced dead at the age of 87
US talk show host Larry King has died aged 87 weeks after he was reportedly hospitalised with coronavirus. Following the news of his death, fans and celebrities flocked to social media to pay tribute including 55-year-old Piers Morgan. The Good Morning Britain host shared a picture of himself alongside Larry with a caption, in which mentioned the time they fell out.
Larry hated me replacing him at CNN and never made any secret of it
In view of his 7.7 million, he began: “RIP Larry King, 87. A television legend.”
He went on to write: “Larry King was a hero of mine until we fell out after I replaced him at CNN & he said my show was ‘like watching your mother-in-law go over a cliff in your new Bentley.’
“(He married 8 times so a mother-in-law expert) But he was a brilliant broadcaster & masterful TV interviewer.”
One of Piers’ fans responded: “This is honest and you still found a way to keep it respectful. I appreciate it. Hate phony stuff.”
READ MORE: Larry King dead: TV host legend dies aged 87
Piers Morgan paid tribute to American TV host Larry King on Twitter (Image: GETTY)
The father-of-four agreed and replied: “Me too. Larry hated me replacing him at CNN and never made any secret of it, which I found very sad because he was one of my heroes – but I still think he was a superb broadcaster & one of the all-time TV greats.”
Back in 2014, the pair had a war of words when Larry branded his successor’s interview style as “pompous”.
In response, Piers called him a “daft old goat” and mocked him for having fewer Twitter followers than him.
In a thread of tweets at the time, Piers wrote: “I always showed @kingsthings the utmost respect but he responded by incessantly bitching about me. Graceless, petty little man. #CNN.”
Piers Morgan detailed his feud with Larry King in a tribute to the star (Image: TWITTER•PIERSMORGAN)
Larry King died aged 87 weeks after he was hospitalised with coronavirus (Image: GETTY)
As part of the feud, Larry’s wife Shawn King called out the former newspaper editor on Twitter, writing: “@piersmorgan. I’m tired if your name calling of my husband. UR always trying to pick a fight. He was talking about your different styles.”(sic)
But the exchange of words didn’t stop there as Piers went on to call Larry a “graceless old toad” and suggested Shawn should tell her husband to “stop being a b***h”.
Larry was best known for hosting his popular CNN talk show Larry King Live for 25 years.
In 2010, Piers took over from CNN’s evening show in a bid to improve ratings.
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According to Ora Media, a production Larry co-founded, the host died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
It is believed he had been treated in hospital for Covid-19 in recent weeks.
They added in a tribute: “For 63 years and across the platforms of radio, television and digital media, Larry’s many thousands of interviews, awards, and global acclaim stand as a testament to his unique and lasting talent as a broadcaster.”
The late host was married eight times to seven women and had five children.
Two of his children died within weeks of each other last year – his daughter Chaia died from lung cancer and son Andy of a heart attack.
He said in a tribute on Instagram at the time: “Losing them feels so out of order. No parent should have to bury a child.
“My family and I thank you for your outpouring of kind sentiments and well wishes.
“In this moment, we need a little time and privacy to heal. I thank you for respecting that.”