Photo: Screen shot from BBC
Jeremy Clarkson must be having a really hard time getting up in the morning these days - after the N-word racism accusations and the talks about his wife divorcing him, the Top Gear presented is now being investigated by British media regulator Ofcom over the alleged use of the racist word in the Top Gear Burma Special.
We’ll remind you that the adventure saw Clarkson, Hammond and May building a bridge over the River Kwau, on the border of Burma and Thailand. Upon completing the task, Clarkson said “That is a proud moment. But there's a slope on it.”
At the time, an Asian man was crossing the bridge, so “slope” was seen as a pejorative term for people of this origin by some.
After the whole story went across the media, Top Gear Producer Andy Willman issued a statement on Clarkson’s remark - “We were not aware at the time, and it has subsequently been brought to our attention, that the word 'slope' is considered by some to be offensive and although it might not be widely recognised in the UK, we appreciate that it can be considered offensive to some here and overseas, for example in Australia and the USA.”
Returning to the Ofcom investigation, this was announced yesterday. If it is decided that Clarkson breached the media code in a serious or reckless manner, the sanctions can be pretty serious. These range from the BBC having to air a correction to a fine of up to a quarter million pounds.
At the time, an Asian man was crossing the bridge, so “slope” was seen as a pejorative term for people of this origin by some.
After the whole story went across the media, Top Gear Producer Andy Willman issued a statement on Clarkson’s remark - “We were not aware at the time, and it has subsequently been brought to our attention, that the word 'slope' is considered by some to be offensive and although it might not be widely recognised in the UK, we appreciate that it can be considered offensive to some here and overseas, for example in Australia and the USA.”
Returning to the Ofcom investigation, this was announced yesterday. If it is decided that Clarkson breached the media code in a serious or reckless manner, the sanctions can be pretty serious. These range from the BBC having to air a correction to a fine of up to a quarter million pounds.
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