Piers Morgan, 54, and his Good Morning Britain co-host Susanna Reid, 48, was joined by Michaella McCollum to recount her experience of being imprisoned overseas for trying to smuggle one and a half million pounds worth of cocaine through Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, Peru. After the guest claimed she “didn’t know” what she was doing, the host was extremely riled and grilled her about why people should buy her book and read it.
Michaella and Melissa Reid were sentenced to six years and eight months in jail after pleading guilty to drug smuggling.
After three years, the women applied to be freed on parole and made their return to the UK some months later.
Now, the mother of twin boys is telling her story about her ordeal in a new tell all book in an attempt to raise awareness to other youngsters.
In trying to get to the bottom of why the guest agreed to the deal of smuggling 11kg of cocaine for £5,000, Piers grilled Michaella about her motives for writing a book as she would get money from the sales.
READ MORE: Susanna Reid staggered at ‘stupid’ Peru Two Michaella McCollum
The guest said of her decision to smuggle the drugs: “I kind of look back now and think how did I not expect this was going to happen.
“The torture this was going to cause myself.”
Piers told her: “The problem is, I read the account of what you went through and it’s horrible. You went through a horrible ordeal, there’s no question of that.
I just find it very hard to feel sorry for you and also I find it problematic you’re now doing this book making money out of this whole experience.”
“A small percentage. Authors make less than 10 per cent,” Michaella explained, to which the host continued to probe her.
“Why should you make any money out of it?” Piers asked.
“I don’t think I’m doing this for the money,” the guest replied, to which the presenter enquired: “Why are you doing it?”
Stating her intentions for reliving her experience in a book, she replied: “I want to bring awareness.”
