Social media has been flooded by an outpouring of fury from Good Morning Britain viewers after guest Bernie Ecclestone branded Russian President Vladimir Putin a "decent" man, despite the ongoing war with Ukraine.
Masses of people tuning into today's episode expressed their outrage as the ex Formula One boss spoke highly of Putin, regarding him as a friend, and told hosts Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway that he would "take a bullet for him."
Appearing on the ITV breakfast show via a live feed from sunny Ibiza, which you can watch above, Bernie said Putin is "a first class person and what he's doing is something that he believed was the right thing he was doing for Russia."
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He added: "Unfortunately, he's like a lot of business person - certainly like me - that we make mistakes from time-to-time. And when you've made a mistake, you have to do the best you can to get out of it and I think if it had been conducted properly.
"I mean, the other person in Ukraine, I mean his profession I understand, he used to be a comedian and it seems he wants to continue that profession because I think if he had thought about things and made a big enough effort to speak to Mr Putin, who is a sensible person and would have listened to him and could have probably done something about it."
Host Ben Shephard appeared visibly shocked and asked: "Bernie, what we have are the actions of Putin and the war that he started in Ukraine has led to the death of thousands ok innocent Ukrainians, you can't justify that surely?" Bernie replied by saying: "It wasn't intentional. Look at the times America has moved into different countries which is nothing to do with America."
Kate then clarified: "So just to understand you clearly, you think that President Zelensky should have done more to avert this war and it could have been avoided by Zelensky's actions, not by a change in Putin's actions?"
"Absolutely," Bernie replied calmly. "It wasn't intentional to be a war, and I'm quite sure if Ukraine had wanted to get out of it properly, they could have done." But the controversy didn't end there, as Bernie went on to take aim at formula one racer Lewis Hamilton, claiming that he should "ignore" Nelson Piquet's racist slur as the controversy continues to engulf F1.
He said: "I've known Nelson for an awful long time. I was with him a couple of weeks ago. It's not the sort of thing Nelson would say meaning something bad. He probably thinks lots of things he says which might upset us or might feel a little bit offensive.... to him it's nothing. It's just part of conversation.
"Nelson would never go out of his way to say anything bad, certainly. I think what probably happened, knowing Nelson as I know him, as his daughter is the girlfriend of Max Verstappen, probably after seeing the accident, he probably exploded and carried that forward."
He later went on to add: "I'm surprised Lewis hasn't just brushed it aside. Or, better than that, replied. But he's now come out and Nelson has apologised." Needless to say, it wasn't long before many viewers took to Twitter to comment in disbelief at what they were hearing about all Bernie was saying.
@kempomado1 tweeted: "Bernie Ecclestone justifying Putin bombing Ukraine and would take a bullet for his "friend" Condoning Piquets racist comments on Lewis Hamilton. All he needed was a "Free R Kelly" tshirt on for the hatrick!"
@ChristieParis98 said: "Get him off the show RIGHT NOW #GMB," while @theotherdebpage agreed: "Somebody pull the plug on this Bernie Ecclestone interview. Embarrassing! #GMB."
@amycnnon added: "This interview with Bernie Ecclestone is car crash telly. Thoughts and prayers with this guys PR team this morning #GMB." @R_Brereton echoed: "What a car crash interview with Bernie Ecclestone. Showing his true dinosaur colours."
@JoRo2206 wrote: "Wow #BernieEccleston is a ******* mentalist! Supporting Putin... get the **** off the TV #GMB." @JAMFLA66 put: "Why did @gmb bring on Bernie Eccleston. Telling Lewis Hamilton to brush racism under the carpet and defending Putin."
@CarlieTotts posted: "Bernie Eccleston on #gmb says that he has no opinion on the racist comments made towards Lewis Hamilton and that he should move on and that he would take a bullet for Putin and that he's a first class man. Are you serious?! Is he for real!?"
@Lorisa_Talbot tweeted: "Bernie Eccleston, wow!! Vile person, vile opinions... get in the," followed by an emoji of a bin.
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