Jeremy Clarkson has been in the news recently but not for the best of reasons..only a few days ago there was controversy when he named his black dog Didier Drogba..there was also before that controversy about him using racial tones against Asians...in a “joke” about a Thai man standing on a bridge.
At the completion of a bridge-building task over the River Kwai in Thailand, Clarkson commented to fellow presenter Richard Hammond: “That is a proud moment.”
Then, just as an Asian man is seen walking into shot, he added: “But there’s a slope on it.”
The use of the word – which is a derogatory term for people of Asian descent – led to complaints and the threat of legal action from Equal Justice, a law firm specialising in discrimination cases.And now his most recent cause for alarm took place last night as he sparked a new racism row after he was caught using the n-word while filming for Top Gear.
In the unseen footage – which was later edited out of the show – the £1million a year TV host is seen swinging his finger between two cars, while reciting a racist version of a children’s counting rhyme.
Clarkson can be heard chanting: “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe...” He then mumbles: “Catch a n***** by his toe”.
The shocking footage comes not long after Clarkson was involved in another offensive outburst,
when he was accused of using the term “slope” while filming in Thailand for the flagship BBC car show.
This morning the TV presenter denied using the n-word and said he has "never" used it.
I did not use the n word. Never use it. The Mirror has gone way too far this time.
Solicitor Lucy Scott Moncrieff said: “It is all about context. If there was a crew member who was distressed by it, then there could well have been a breach of equality legislation.”
Fellow lawyer Lawrence Davies blasted: “Clarkson has to be sacked, no matter how much money he makes for the BBC. Use of that word is not acceptable.”
The Mirror hired a firm of audio forensic experts to analyse the clip and they confirmed that the n-word was indeed used by Clarkson.
Clarkson was filming for Series 19 Episode 3 when he used the phrase. The start of the show featured a segment where he was test driving the £25,000 Toyota GT86 and the similarly priced Subaru BRZ.
The outspoken star took both cars for a spin around the famous Top Gear race track while delivering a review of how they performed.
Clarkson said: “Both cost the same, they have the same bodies and the same interiors with the same equipment. They are even built by the same people in the same factory. You might imagine then that it’s quite hard to chose between them, but actually, it isn’t.”
The footage then cut to him standing on the side of the track between the two motors.
The presenter rolled up his sleeves and said: “Watch, because this is how you do it.”
But in the version aired by the BBC in February 2013, the offensive term was not used. Clarkson recited the rhyme, but this time used the word “teacher”.
The BBC’s own editorial guidelines state: “Reclamation of the language has led to the term ‘n*****’ being used by some in the black community and terms such as ‘cripple’ are sometimes used humorously or sarcastically by people with disabilities.
“But this usage may still cause distress within these communities and is also much more likely to cause offence when employed by someone who is not a member of the community in question.”