Clarkson 'begs forgiveness'

[TensionWheelsCoolHeels]

Guardian link

Can't help but think all the years he's gone out of his way to be as 'un-PC' as possible and laugh off the 'professionally offended' actually make his begging forgiveness sound hollow and insincere.

Live by the sword, die by the sword? Wonder how the BBC will actually deal with this one. Trying really hard not to say just about the most offensive word it's possible to say just doesn't ring true. I wonder who it was that released the clip? Someone he's offended I'll bet...

Nor James May who is also defending him.

Time for them to wake up I think.

Has he had a bet with someone that he can say this and get away with it? The whole episode smells like shite. Dreadful bawbag of a man.

Am I the only person who had no idea that the 'n' word was even in that rhyme?

It's always been 'tiger' here. I learned that rhyme when I was a toddler in the 1970s, and even then it was 'tiger'. I've taught it to my kids with 'tiger'. I had no idea that any other word had ever been used.

I am somewhat embarrassed at it being known as a 'racist' rhyme. I hope people have not been thinking that I/my DC were being euphemistic when we said 'tiger'!

Top Gear is the BBC's single most lucrative programme, apparently (they sell it to countless countries for vast sums), so the presenters appear to be untouchable.

No one should be shocked, this is typical Clarkson. And I think, once you add up all the similar unpleasant jokes made over the years, you'd have to say, he means it. He isn't just jabbing at political correctness, being outrageous, robust, old-fashioned, championing freedom of speech. He's doing a bit of all those things, and he also means it. East Asians are slopes, black Africans are niggers, women are useless.

And the disingenuous apology adds insult to injury. It is so lacking in credibility as to be contemptuous. The reason we can all hear him saying the word nigger in the footage is...because he said the word nigger in the footage. If that were genuine accident, we'd also have heard him say 'Oh Christ, sorry, didn't mean to say that, scrub it. Let's start again.' Or something. But we don't.

That's assuming anyone can genuinely get into the position of saying a word they find grossly offensive 'by accident'. Don't know about you lot, but I've never called anyone 'kike' or 'white trash' or 'Paki' or 'retard' or 'Taliban murderer' by accident. Or indeed on purpose.

Has he got another book or DVD due out soon?

Good post Denzel. I agree.

driven ! Quite possibly the only one, yes. I have no idea what the newer versions that people use are - and I'm the same age as you. (NB: This does not mean that I use the old version.)

Vicar I enjoyed that link a lot - thank you. There's a comment below that says "He's an artist" which resonated for me.

I am not shocked because I would expect nothing less from Jeremy Clarkson. How the man still has a job is beyond me. The only conclusion I can make is that he must be in the masons or something.

If anyone from the BBC is reading this who has any control over these things - please, for the love of God - get rid of that fucking awful man and stop making us all pay a licence fee for the privilege of listening to that gobshite's opinions.

It is going to be interesting to see how far the BBC allow their buttons to be pushed.
They will soon lose much credibilty at this rate.

Why cant the show be done without Clarkson?

The word "oaf" might well have been coined just for this individual - I can't call him a man

I also doubt he'll be even slightly worried about all the reports; he'll probably enjoy the publicity and it's not as if the BBC will take any action against their big money-spinner, is it?

I agree with Denzel

More - Guardian link

So he's on a final warning, he's now denying (again) that he said the word he's claiming he was sincere about apologising for. And only apologised because BBC told him to, despite him still protesting he didn't say the word he's sincere in apologising for.

The BBC look like utter spineless idiots in this.

Have you actually listened to the clip?

I've seen reports this morning that he is on a final warning from the BBC, but the sourcing is unclear (so might not be accurate).

If they are, then I think it's not a bad outcome. For if a further incident led to dismissal then it would be for all dubious choices not just one incident that might be endless picked over and excuses found for.

I have heard on Sky some snippets of what he has written in today's Sun column, and the only conclusion I can draw is that he is not quite all there.

'I've seen reports this morning that he is on a final warning from the BBC'

In his Sun column, he says that the BBC has given him a "final warning".

I think the reason the BBC can't do Top Gear without JC is that he owns part of the rights to the show so I imagine he's knows he's pretty much untouchable.

Yes.
I've listened to the clip.

He should not have said it granted, but I do feel as though the person who outed this has a grudge

This clip was never made for airing.

I think if you learn something by rote as a child it sticks with you and is very easy to say these things accidentally. And I learnt that rhyme as he said it.. I am in my forties. I have to make an actual effort for it not to come out. Not because I am racist but because that is how I learnt it.

But Jeremy makes his own issues and needs to remember that he is in the public eye.

I'm 52 and as its been a word I find pretty unpleasant I have been able to not use it for nearly two decades.
But in fairness he has the brains of a squid.

It's disturbing. In this day and age - it points to something being quite wrong beneath the "jolly Uncle Non-PC" surface.
As does a lot of what he says does.
Claim made the point earlier. I think it' correct.
I don't know why people have been so keen to not see what is actually there in plain sight.
And of course he is only sooty he's been told off.