Susanna Reid was forced to step in before credits rolled on Wednesday's Good Morning Britain to issue an apology over a comment from a guest about the death penalty for gay people in Caribbean countries.
As well as the ongoing conflict in war-torn Ukraine once again being a major talking point on the ITV breakfast show, Susanna and co-host Richard Madeley were joined by studio guests including journalists Andrew Pierce and Kevin Maguire to discuss the fact that Boris Johnson will meet the Crown Prince days after a huge public execution in Saudi Arabia as he seeks to boost Gulf oil production.
Maguire described the decision as "grotesque double standards," and "the worst hypocrisy," and during the conversation, Pierce, claimed that parts of the Caribbean have the death penalty for homosexuality as he appeared to defend Saudi Arabia.
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Viewers at home quickly seized on the comment, insisting that it wasn't true and calling on the show to make an urgent correction.
Tagging Pierce in their post, one tweeted: " @toryboypierce spreading fake news on GMB as usual, states total lie that certain Caribbean countries have the death penalty for being gay. No Caribbean countries have the death penalty for being gay but it suits his narrative of defaming and framing certain communities!"
Another alarmed viewer reacted: "GMB guest Andrew Pierce alleges some Caribbean countries have death penalty for gay people. I have never heard of this and am Caribbean origin. I have searched and can find no trace of this. False defaming allegation?" and a third posted: "...here is no death penalty in the Caribbean for being gay ..Terrible that @toryboypierce spread such lies but not surprising. @gmb you have an obligation to correct this!"
GMB did correct Pierce's false allegation and it fell on the shoulders of Susanna to give a statement right at the end of Wednesday's show.
After ending a interview with dance legend Michael Flatley, Susanna said: "Before we go, I'd just like to correct something said by earlier in the show.
"One of our contributor suggested being gay was punishable by the death penalty in some parts of the Caribbean. That's not correct, although it is considered as a crime with potentially long jail sentences in some areas."
Richard added: "Just to make the absolutely clear."
