Susanna Reid apologises for ‘highly offensive’ gesture on Good Morning Britain
Susanna had to quickly step in.
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Previous Page Next PageSusanna Reid was forced to say sorry after a reporter made a ‘highly offensive gesture’ on Good Morning Britain.
John Sweeney, 66, who appeared via video link from Kyiv, made a three-finger salute before sticking up just his middle finger when he recalled a Ukrainian man’s response to Donald Trump.
It comes as the US president attempts to strong-arm Volodymyr Zelensky into handing over Ukraine’s vast natural resources, while other leaders scramble to find a way to end Russia’s three-year war.
After John flipped the bird, Susanna, 54, immediately jumped in and apologised to ITV daytime viewers who may have been offended by his action.
She said: ‘I understand it made you feel personally the power of that. We do have to apologise for that gesture on breakfast television.
‘It is still considered a highly offensive gesture John and, of course, there are children watching.’
John Sweeney stuck his middle finger up on Good Morning Britain (Picture: ITV) The ‘highly offensive’ gesture prompted Susanna to apologise to viewers (Picture: ITV)In response, John said: ‘I am very sorry Susanna. I am an old war reporter and sometimes I forget where I am.’
John made the gesture while discussing the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine with Susanna and her co-host Richard Madeley, 68.
Recalling an encounter with a Ukrainian man, he said: ‘There’s a bloke there that has lost both arms and one leg and so he’s got two plastic hands.
‘And I said what do you think about Trump? I don’t want to swear.’
John reported on Trump’s interference with Ukraine from Kyiv (Picture: ITV)‘The Ukrainians have done some technology that the muscles in the stump in his arm can now control this thing [the hand].
‘And it’s slow and he’s learning, but he said “wait wait wait” and he gave Putin the finger and it made me cry.’
According to Trump, not only does he have a stake in Ukraine’s oil, gas, and critical minerals reserves, but he also has dibs on infrastructure and ports.
He also claims the industry he says is worth $500,000,000,000 (£395 billion) is just ‘payback’ for US military aid.
Zelensky with French president Macron and Trump after a meeting last year in Paris (Picture: Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu via Getty Images)However, the Ukrainian president refused to sign the agreement, saying the US has offered no specific security guarantees.
On Friday, he said the US and Ukrainian teams were working on a deal and Trump said he expects one will be signed soon.
It has since been reported that Trump’s negotiators have threatened to cut Ukraine’s access to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet system, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Starlink provides crucial internet connectivity to war-torn Ukraine and its military.
After Reuters published its story, Musk posted on X that the article is ‘false’ and accused the news agency of lying.
Good Morning Britain airs from 6am on weekdays on ITVX.
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