Adil Ray summoned by 'pretty cross' ITV GMB execs amid fury over Sharia law comments as he issues clarification

"Some say Mamdani may implement Sharia Law. He might," Mr Ray began in his social media post. "The heart of Sharia is social justice, welfare, fairness, charity, and cohesion. Most Muslim countries operate a hybrid of Sharia & civil law, are slowly reforming and abandoning unethical practices despite the West's portrayal."

Before long, the post garnered widespread attention and plenty of outrage. On Friday, 48 hours after the post, Mr Ray attempted to issue a clarification.

He wrote: "To clarify. I am not actually suggesting Mamdani would implement 'sharia law'. But many of the issues he campaigned for are also some of the positive values of Sharia that Muslims try to live by. Something many of us would agree on."

The clarification came just hours after Mr Ray had come under fire once more for his line of questioning to a 100-year-old WWII veteran who was disparaging about the current state of the country.

Following the rather eventful few days, Mr Ray was then summoned to his bosses at ITV for a meeting about his social media antics, according to The Sun.

A source told the publication: "GMB execs are pretty cross. His comments sent bosses into a tailspin and he was called in.

"It was a nightmare as hours earlier ITV revealed it was in talks to sell its broadcasting arm to Sky in a £1.6billion deal. Obviously, they don’t want anything to derail that."

The deal in question is currently in "preliminary" stages according to ITV, and it's believed it could transform the landscape of British television if it proceeds.

Mr Ray's seeming endorsement of Sharia law and its principles has been met with widespread outrage, with the People's Channel's very own Patrick Christys letting loose during his eponymous Friday night show.

Patrick opened Friday's instalment of Tonight by outlining Mr Ray's initial tweet as well as his clarification before he weighed in: "Okay, some countries with Sharia law then.

"So we’ve got Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Do we think that Adil might want to leave his comfortable London TV studio to go to live in any of those countries? I’m not really sure he will."

Patrick continued: "Another country, of course, is Nigeria. 12 northern states have just started implementing Sharia law. What else is happening in Nigeria, Adil? Oh yeah, there are reports of Christians being slaughtered en masse.

"Now, Adil Ray might claim that true Sharia has never actually been tried. You know, like what communists say about their ideology.

"Well, given the amount of child rape, cousin marriage, female genital mutilation, stonings, beheadings, chopping off of limbs, persecution of gay people, and terrorism in those countries… I think, uh, I think Sharia has been tried. I think we might swerve it over here, thanks, Adil."

Patrick then pointed out that ITV and Piers Morgan had parted ways due to alleged fears about advertising revenue, among other factors after his public criticism of Meghan Markle.

The GB News star explained: "Reportedly, ITV were worried about markets and advertising implications—commercial implications—because of what he said.

"But it seems that Adil Ray can try to promote Sharia law, and he just keeps his job. No commercial pressure there, no pushback, no lefties kicking off, no crisis meetings with ITV execs.

"What a strange, strange country we live in," Patrick signed off, and he wasn't the only GB News star dumbfounded by Mr Ray's conduct.

Emily Carver made her return to GB News during Friday's Patrick Christys Tonight and she too didn't hold back. "I was absolutely shocked when I saw it on Twitter, that he would say that so brazenly on Twitter, and I knew it was going to go viral," she began.

"I think I quote-tweeted it saying, 'Sorry, what?' Because why on earth would a Good Morning Britain presenter decide to make Sharia law sound kind of fluffy?

"Oh, don’t worry, it works alongside lovely laws that we have over here, it’s not a problem if it happens in New York. Don’t worry, don’t worry, talking about social justice at the heart of Sharia welfare fairness, charity, and cohesion.

‘Why on earth would an ITV presenter make Sharia Law sound fluffy?’

GB News Presenter Emily Carver criticises an ITV Presenter for talking so ‘brazenly’ on Sharia Law.

📺 Freeview 236, Sky 512, Virgin 604 pic.twitter.com/NcxUfXVa99

— GB News (@GBNEWS) November 7, 2025

"Okay, should we take Adil Ray's word for it, or should we have a look at some of those countries that you listed so carefully there, where it’s actually working in practice, and see what it’s like for women and any minorities, let’s say?"

GB News has contacted Mr Ray's representatives for comment.