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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not buy DH an ice cream because--Richard Hammond-- people might think he's gay

150 replies

amispartacus · 27/12/2016 10:10

Maybe it's scripted.
Maybe not.

www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/dec/27/richard-hammond-ice-cream-gay-the-grand-tour

Surprised at Hammond. Normally it would be Clarkson. Very surprised James May is on the show. He comes across as a decent guy.

Still, I suppose it will be defended as banter. Hmm

OP posts:
Lweji · 27/12/2016 11:28

Also Hammond was shot down by Clarkson and he told the audience off for clapping him.

And that wasn't scripted. Sure. :)

It's naive to think children or teenagers didn't watch it. But it's also naive to think that adults aren't influenced by such normalisation of using gay as insult and gender stereotypes. It just validates the behaviour.

And saying your gay friends weren't up in arms is like saying some token black people supported Trump.

Original poster
amispartacus · 27/12/2016 11:29

That episode was classed as a "15" so I very much doubt young children would be watching it and then going around calling people gay for having an ice cream

Of course, Because no one under 15 watches programmes that are 15 Hmm

Also Hammond was shot down by Clarkson and he told the audience off for clapping him

So - that tells us that
a) It was scripted
b) The core audience thinks gay jokes are funny

OP posts:
ButteredToastAndStrawberryJam · 27/12/2016 11:30

So Jeremy Clarkson is using Richards Hammond as a stooge, who is the biggest idiot, the depths some people with go to earn a living. Jeremy Clarkson, you're not funny, at all.

Original poster
amispartacus · 27/12/2016 11:31

And saying your gay friends weren't up in arms is like saying some token black people supported Trump

Not sure if 'up in arms' is the right word.

It's just depressing that they thought such a comment / script would be needed. I suppose it does show their thought processes.

Some people have moved on in their thinking.

OP posts:
DonaldStott · 27/12/2016 11:36

The core audience thinks gay jokes are funny

Exactly this. I really lose respect for people if I find out they like this show. Makes me see them in a whole new light.

Badcat666 · 27/12/2016 11:36

Wow.. sorry my male friends who love other men like the show. Must tell them they should only be watching shows vetted by mumsnet these days.

I'm sure they will be most grateful being told what is acceptable to watch by other people.

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 27/12/2016 11:39

I used to watch the old TG

As did my ice cream eating heterosexual husband until he wearied of the stupidity of it.

That episode was classed as a "15" so I very much doubt young children would be watching it and then going around calling people gay for having an ice cream

Oh please - as if (a)no one under 15 saw it or (b)over 15 year olds never bully any gay people.

Original poster
amispartacus · 27/12/2016 11:40

badcat

Why do you think they scripted this joke?

Do you think it's just a bit sad that such a joke needed to be scripted?
Still, if it wasn't gay people, it would be foreigners. Or the disabled? Or women? Or anyone who wasn't like them?

OP posts:
Lweji · 27/12/2016 11:40

I used to like TG (haven't watched this), but didn't appreciate the gay or sexist jokes. Or other stupid things.

I did like the three way comparison between cars, and the time competition and the celebrity competition.

I think it's possible to like a show overall but still cringe at and criticise some aspects of it.

Btw, the audience in the studio will laugh and clap at anything.

ComputerUserNumptyTwit · 27/12/2016 11:42

We watched the show on Friday evening and I can honestly say I've not given the ice cream nonsense a second's thought since.

I'm pretty lax with age ratings btw but wouldn't want anyone not old enough to get The Inbetweeners or South Park, say, to watch GT. Not that GT is anything like as good as South Park, but I've enjoyed some of it a lot. Battleships was hilarious.

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 27/12/2016 11:43

He's a great litmus test too, if you think you're not racist / misogynistic / homophobic but Stewart Lee makes you angry at him, then you probably are racist / misogynistic / homophobic

I really am none of those and I can't stand Stewart Lee. I find him a patronising, condescending, leftier than thou lefty.

coldcanary · 27/12/2016 11:46

Battleships was bloody funny 😄
They've never bettered the rugby with the Cee'd (?) cars on TG though.
A lot of the filmed pieces have been good but they need to do less talking in the studio and more car stuff. I'm not even interested in cars that much unless it's those 3 reviewing them!

scaryclown · 27/12/2016 11:47

i think its knowing..taking the piss out of the seriousness and paranoia attached to silly distinctions. its aping a tit . not being a tit...if you follow my awesome animal disses

Ilovetorrentialrain · 27/12/2016 11:49

My view is similar to ComputerUser above.

Not all humour (regardless of whether everyone finds it funny) is politically correct and appropriate. Some of the funniest stuff is wildly inappropriate and, done well, very funny.

I'm concerned that because people comment so readily on social media and don't always look to themselves first to form an opinion there is increasingly a move to 'sanitise' and censor. That worries me more than a daft 'joke' by RH.

BertrandRussell · 27/12/2016 11:50

"That episode was classed as a "15" so I very much doubt young children would be watching it and then going around calling people gay for having an ice cream"

Really? I think it's incredibly likely that they will. And so will over 15s.

Has anyone said that all their gay friends love Top Gear yet?

Original poster
amispartacus · 27/12/2016 11:52

I'm concerned that because people comment so readily on social media and don't always look to themselves first to form an opinion there is increasingly a move to 'sanitise' and censor

I doubt he would have said a racist joke. We have moved on as a society - haven't we?

OP posts:
Lweji · 27/12/2016 11:54

I'm concerned that (...) there is increasingly a move to 'sanitise' and censor. That worries me more than a daft 'joke' by RH.

Really? It worries you more than normalising homophobia and gender stereotypes and sexism?

mansviewpoint · 27/12/2016 11:59

I just wonder if he was told by his siblings that ice cream wasn't to be taken orally. Perhaps that's why he's confused, and has a cold arse.

BertrandRussell · 27/12/2016 12:00

"Not all humour (regardless of whether everyone finds it funny) is politically correct and appropriate. Some of the funniest stuff is wildly inappropriate and, done well, very funny."

Does RH's comment come under the category of "very funny"? If not, could you give an example?

Abraiid2 · 27/12/2016 12:00

Why would anyone take this seriously and be offended by it?

BertrandRussell · 27/12/2016 12:02

Nobody is offended.

Some people don't like anything which is going to normalize homophobic teasing/bullying.

Ilovetorrentialrain · 27/12/2016 12:03

Bertrand - no it does not! Not remotely funny IMO.

I just don't like sensorship.

Ilovetorrentialrain · 27/12/2016 12:04

Argh! Censorship.

Original poster
amispartacus · 27/12/2016 12:04

Why would anyone take this seriously and be offended by it

I'm disappointed in James May. Clarkson and Hammond - well, it doesn't surprise me that they thought this kind of 'humour' would be needed to generate publicity.

But James May seems different. I'm surprised he'd even want to be linked with such a script.

OP posts:
Closedenv · 27/12/2016 12:05

So stupid! thing is now a lot of children and adults may well hesitate about choosing it.