Television personality Piers Morgan has expressed concern for Stephen Fry’s mental health after the British comedian made controversial comments about sexual abuse survivors.

During an interview on American television with Dave Rubin, Fry was bemoaning what he sees as a narrowing of views in universities.

“On student campuses … there are many great plays which contain rapes, and the word rape now is even considered a rape,” Fry said.

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“Or you can’t watch Macbeth because it’s got children being killed in it, it might trigger something when you were young that upset you once, because your uncle touched you in a nasty place, well I’m sorry.

“It’s a great shame and we’re all very sorry that your uncle touched you in that nasty place – you get some of my sympathy – but your self pity gets none of my sympathy.

“Self pity is the ugliest emotion in humanity.”

In a tweet, Morgan said he was concerned for Fry’s wellbeing.

I’m worried about Stephen Fry.
Hope he’s OK. Been behaving & speaking in a very odd way lately.

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 12, 2016

Fry has come in for scathing criticism, with the CEO of sexual abuse survivors’ group The Survivors Trust, Fay Maxted, telling the Huffington Post his comments were cruel.

“For someone who is so sensitive to his own mental health issues, Fry’s comments show a very sad lack of insight or understanding of the impact of child sexual abuse on its victims,” Maxted said.

“I would have hoped that Stephen Fry would be much more sensitive towards people struggling to recover from trauma.

“As a survivor myself I don’t want anyone’s pity. I want society to protect children and make sure victims and survivors get the help and justice they deserve.”

It is the second time this year Fry has become embroiled in controversy, with the 58-year-old deleting his Twitter account in February after being hectored for comments he made about costume designer Jenny Beavan’s dress sense at the BAFTA awards.

“Only one of the great cinematic costume designers would come to an awards ceremony dressed as a bag lady,” he said.

Beavan is a friend of Fry’s.

After being bombarded with negative comments on social media, Fry deleted his Twitter account, stating:

“Will all you sanctimonious f***ers f*** the f*** off. Jenny Beavan is a friend and joshing is legitimate. Christ I want to leave the planet.”