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Clive Myrie sets the record straight after he's accused of 'belittling' energy crisis

Julia Hunt
·Contributor
Updated ·2-min read
Clive Myrie has responded to comments on social media. (Getty)
Clive Myrie has responded to comments on social media. (Getty)

BBC News' Clive Myrie has set the record straight after he was accused of "belittling" the energy crisis as it emerged that doctors were concerned for the Queen's health.

The journalist, 58, was presenting the news on Thursday (8 September) and viewers thought he referred to the crisis as "insignificant" amid reports of the monarch's ill health.

However, he has now clarified that he was referring to the speech from Prime Minister Liz Truss - and not the content of the speech - and admitted that it was "a poor choice of word perhaps".

Read more: Clive Myrie shares frustration at fake news about Ukraine crisis

While he was presenting (prior to the Queen's death being announced) Myrie had turned to colleague Damian Grammaticas, who was at Buckingham Palace.

Clive Myrie posing for photos before the 2016 GG2 Leadership Awards at the Park Plaza Westminster Hotel. Date of photo: Thursday, October 20, 2016. Photo credit should read: Richard Gray/EMPICS Entertainment.
Clive Myrie has clarified his remark. (Richard Gray/EMPICS Entertainment)

He said: "Damian, the news a little bit earlier on today that the doctors in Scotland were concerned about the Queen’s health, coming as Liz Truss was making a rather important statement concerning the future of energy bills.

"That of course, insignificant now given the gravity of the situation we seem to be experiencing with Her Majesty."

Some viewers were unimpressed, suggesting that Myrie was making light of the energy situation.

One said he was "belittling" the crisis and another said it was "appalling misjudgment".

But the star has now tweeted: "Let me clear something up, particularly for those who seemed to relish the suggestion that I would be INSENSITIVE enough to belittle the struggles of millions with their bills.

"I was referring to the speech Liz Truss was giving, not the CONTENTS of that speech."

He said in another post: "It was a poor choice of word perhaps but that’s live broadcasting.

File photo dated 5/7/2006 of Queen Elizabeth II attending a garden party for members of the public at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, to mark the occasion of her 80th birthday. The Queen was in robust health for most of her life and seldom took time off during her lengthy reign and illnesses were few and far between over the years. Issue date: Thursday September 8, 2022.
Clive Myrie was reporting on the Queen's health when he made the comment. (PA)

"But the vitriolic ‘pile on’ hasn’t been particularly edifying either.

"But that’s Twitter for you!

"Cheers."

Read more: Viewers moved as Clive Myrie appears to 'shed tear' while reporting on Ukraine crisis

The Queen's death was announced on Thursday evening (8 September), with Buckingham Palace announcing that she "died peacefully at Balmoral".

Watch: Prince Charles hails BBC's 'impartiality' on visit