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Jeremy Clarkson deliberate in using racial slur, watchdog rules.

UK's OfCom says an offensive word used on Top Gear was deliberate and not justified by context.

Screen Shot 2014-05-08 at 12.46.45 am.jpgBritain’s media watchdog OfCom has ruled that Jeremy Clarkson used a racial term deliberately during a Top Gear‘s Burma special.

In the episode Clarkson and co-presenter Richard Hammond were filmed observing their handiwork on a makeshift bridge across the river Kwai, as an Asian man was seen walking towards them.

Clarkson said: “That is a proud moment … but … there is a slope on it.”

Hammond said: “You are right … [pointing] … it is definitely higher on that side.”

An Ofcom spokesman said: “After a thorough investigation, Ofcom has found the BBC breached broadcasting rules by including an offensive racial term in Top Gear, which was not justified by context. Jeremy Clarkson used the word ‘slope’ to refer both to an Asian man crossing a bridge, and the incline of the bridge. This was scripted in advance. The BBC failed to take the opportunity, either during filming or post-production, to check whether the word had the potential to offend viewers.

“All broadcasters must adhere to Ofcom’s rules on offensive material.”

Ofcom also noted that the sequence was scripted in advance.

“There was clearly an opportunity both during filming and post-production to research the word and reach a more considered view on whether it was ‘mere slang’ and had the potential to cause offence to viewers,” the regulator concluded.

But the BBC defended that it had already resolved the matter after producer Andy Wilman said it was “a light-hearted wordplay joke” but apologised.

A BBC spokeswoman has since said: “We dealt with this matter some time ago, the programme apologised at the time and explained the context, and we are now focusing on delivering another series of one of Britain’s best-loved shows.”

Clarkson, who has a string of similar misdemeanours, has previously said that he had been “told by the BBC that if I make one more offensive remark, anywhere, at any time, I will be sacked”.

Clarkson’s offending remark did not air in Australia on Nine, which edited the scene to avoid a similar broadcast breach here.

Source: Guardian

8 Responses

  1. I’m like others here the stupid thing is until this came up in the media it didn’t even cross my mind. We all know how crap they are at building thing I genuinely thought they were talking about the bridge being crocked.

    I would say the fact it was scripted it was just bad timing/editing that a local was in shot at the time he said it. Also Richard needs to take some of the blame along with the production and editing team who allowed it to go to air, why is Clarkson being singled out by the media when things like this happen?

  2. I have to agree with the comments already posted. I watched the episode unedited when it was shown initially on BBC Knowledge and I never picked up on the comment. It wasn’t until it was pointed out on this site that I was aware of it. You know what you are getting with Clarkson and Top Gear and it’s part of the appeal of the show.

    As has been pointed out, the show is not pc, they take the micky out of everyone, everything and themselves most of all and in a world with so much compliance, it is probably that very reason the show is as popular as it is, rightly or wrongly.

  3. BBC Knowledge showed it unedited.

    A lot of humour offends someone or mocks taboos. Fortunately Ofcom will now save us from that so that if millions enjoy something two people objecting can stop them.

    .

  4. Can someone please tell me how what Jermey said was Racist? I didn’t suspect any racism when watching the episode and didn’t now about it until this article came up.

  5. The remote is a powerful tool, TG is renowned for its edgy comments, so the vast majority of folk know what to expect. They are also unmerciful upon themselves with JC often being referred to as a baboon, orangutan etc, May -captain slow, Hammond-height.
    The show is refreshingly not pc and all the better for it, so lets not get carried away here with whose fault it is etc….

  6. But his comment was said for comedic purposes. If at this stage you don’t know Top Gear makes offensive, bad taste jokes, then it is your own fault if you watch and get offended.

  7. Ofcom investigated this after they received 2 complaints, yep 2!!
    What an utterley pointless investigation as it had already made the press and the producers/editors etc apologised…. and anyone with a working brain cell realised that it was scripted and could have been excluded.

    Whats more I had no idea at all that slope was a derogatory term towards asian folk until this all kicked off….and when you watch the show with this millisecond included, you would not have a clue that there was a reference to a person……bonkers….sorry rant over

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