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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to be unsurprised that Jeremy Clarkson used the N word?

335 replies

lessonsintightropes · 02/05/2014 12:59

Abject apology here.

Surely the Beeb will have to sack him now?

OP posts:
5Foot5 · 02/05/2014 13:11

So having read the link this appears to have been an incident which happened several years ago where he mumbled something which, from the context ,could well have been "the n word" but which he claims he never actually said but mumbled. He then thought better of it and the clip was pulled and never shown on the programme.

When someone found this clip and released it to the press he explained the context and immediately apologised.

A stupid error but I would have thought the explanation and apologies should suffice.

Do you really think the Beeb want to sack him? I doubt it.

OwlCapone · 02/05/2014 13:19

Clarkson has apologised and asked for forgiveness after a clip of him reciting the nursery rhyme Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe was published by the Mirror.

It's not quite as your thread title implies is it?

OwlCapone · 02/05/2014 13:20

As a child, I learned that rhyme with the N word in and I suspect Clarkson did too. Clearly it is now unacceptable and the fact that he got to that point in the rhyme and mumbled it shows that he knew it.

BubbleButt79 · 02/05/2014 13:20

Thing is, he hasn't really used it has he.

As said above, someone has found this, released it, and now it seems like (much like the Brand / Ross incident) people are watching/reading/listening to the Clarkson "thing" and expecting to be offended.

The whole situation is bullshit, and the beeb shouldn't even utter a word to Clarkson other than a very basic, standard "just watch what you're saying fella" typical letter.

adsy · 02/05/2014 13:21

He was reciting an old rhyme, realised what the word was and pulled the footage. He also apologised for his mumbling of what he half said.
Think you need to calm down a bit

lollerskates · 02/05/2014 13:21

YANBU. Of course he said it. He won't be sacked though because his puerile shitfest of a show makes the BBC too much money. Did you read about the "slope" comment? He's a fucking embarrassment.

adsy · 02/05/2014 13:23

What was the slope comment?

Andrewofgg · 02/05/2014 13:24

Any excuse to sack him will do.

I remember a group of us getting a shellacking for using that version of Eeeny Meeny - in an all white school with nobody to take personal offence - about fifty-five years ago, in such powerful terms that I do still remember it. If it wasn't acceptable from a child then, it certainly isn't from an adult - or at least one of adult years - in our time.

It's right to add that the bollocking also extended to the line wipe his bum which might not be considered so offensive nowadays!

ArmyDad · 02/05/2014 13:25

In order to hear that word The Mirror had to put it on a loop and play it 4 times with the mumbled part getting louder each time. This was on a clip from over 18 months ago. Someone clearly has a vendetta against Clarkson/Top Gear at the Mirror.

BubbleButt79 · 02/05/2014 13:26

And here come the "oh, I must be offednded by this comment" brigade.

Just because you don't appear to like "his" highly successful, long running TV show doesn't mean he should, or even will be sacked.

I don't particularly like Clarkson or Top Gear a great deal, but it's quite clear that the small mistake that Clarkson has made, is minor, and he has also issued an apology.

Also - for context - a newspaper has actively searched for something to go after Clarkson with, forced it into the public domain, and are essentially demanding people be offended........

captainmummy · 02/05/2014 13:28

I learned that rhyme with the N-word. I then had to relearn it with 'tiger' instead. I think from the footage Clarkson said 'nuh nuh by the toe' which everyone is in a lather about, cos it sounds like it might have been offensive. FGS. What a non-story.

LeftyLoony · 02/05/2014 13:31

Yeah. Only he didn't actually say it.

LeftyLoony · 02/05/2014 13:32

It sounds a bit like curver nurger?

OwlCapone · 02/05/2014 13:32

If it wasn't acceptable from a child then, it certainly isn't from an adult - or at least one of adult years - in our time.

It was acceptable less than 55 years ago for me.

I'm not a Clarkson fan at all butt his I his is a non story.

RufusTheReindeer · 02/05/2014 13:34

Did he say the n word??

Or did he say nipper???

Or can you not actually hear it???

I can't see anywhere that says he said it, just that it sounded like it might have

WooWooOwl · 02/05/2014 13:35

He didn't say it.

I agree that this is a non issue and it is really not worthy of being called news.

TillyTellTale · 02/05/2014 13:37

I think Clarkson's done a lot worse than recite a nasty version of a nursery rhyme half-way through, remember what's coming up next, and try to alter it on the fly.

"I wish to God my attempts to cover up that word were better," he said. "I was simply mumbling - saying 'ner ner' or something similar. Anything but the n-word. It was my mistake and I apologise for not covering it up. But if you look closely at the footage, you can see what I'm trying to do." The 54-year-old told producers: "I didn't use the N-word here but I've just listened through my headphones and it sounds like I did. Is there another take?"

I'm certain we can get him for something else.

whatadrama · 02/05/2014 13:40

I cant stand Clarkson but seriously, this is another non story whipped up by our ridiculous media in exactly the same way Jonathon Ross and RB were hauled over the coals and presented to the public so we could all be horrified and disgusted Hmm

nonmifairidere · 02/05/2014 13:40

Not the least bit surprised. Surprised anyone would believe a word he said in his 'apology', though. No-one says that word 'by mistake' after struggling not to to say it. But I'm not surprised there are apologists for him, though; his programme is designed for idiots and his fan base is of the same ilk. He's a cash cow for the BBC, so, sadly, is unlikely to disappear anywhere but up his own fundament.

I'm in my 60s and learnt the rhyme as 'caught a tiddler by the toe'.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 02/05/2014 13:40

SHOCK NEWS
Clarkson thinks twice about saying something offensive and decides NOT to say it...

I learnt this rhyme in the 70s and it did have the n word in it then. My children say a version about catching a spider on your toe.

lessonsintightropes · 02/05/2014 13:41

Slope comment issue described here.

To whoever told me to calm down - I'm not wound up.

But I don't think the kind of puerile humour and casual nastiness Clarkson typifies should be dignified with humungous wads of license payer cash, and I am hoping that his repeated and egregious casual racism will get him sacked.

OP posts:
ArmyDad · 02/05/2014 13:41

If the Mirror is so caught up reporting racism I wonder if they have reported on the two Labour councillors that have been suspended by the party and a police investigation has started over alleged comments made on Facebook. I can't find that story.

TequilaMockingbirdy · 02/05/2014 13:42

He didn't say it. FFS.

bragmatic · 02/05/2014 13:44

He didn't say it. He just said something that sounded uncannily like it.

He is a cockhead.

adsy · 02/05/2014 13:45

Slope. Really? Thats an offensive word? Ffs.
Sounded like he used the word in the context of a slope to me.