Mexico's ambassador to Britain has demanded an apology from British motoring TV series Top Gear after its presenters made disparaging remarks about the country.
Ambassador Eduardo Medina Mora Icaza wrote a letter to the BBC stating the show's presenters, Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond, used bigoted stereotypes against Mexicans.
In a Sunday episode, watched by 6 million people, Richard Hammond claimed that cars imitate national characteristics. He said: "Mexican cars are just going to be a lazy, ****less, flatulent, oaf with a moustache leaning against a fence asleep looking at a cactus with a blanket with a hole in the middle on as a coat," he said.
The show's presenters, especially Jeremy Clarkson, are not exactly known for their political correctness (and that's probably why they are popular). A couple of years ago, Jeremy Clarkson took it upon himself to launch an attack against a more traditional enemy of the English - the Scots. On an episode of Top Gear, he called the then Prime Minister Gordon Brown a "one-eyed Scottish idiot." Brown is blind in one eye as a result of an injury he sustained whilst playing rugby at his school in Kirkcaldy in 1967.
Mexico complains about 'vulgar' Top Gear
Mexico's ambassador to London has demanded an apology from the presenters of "Top Gear," expressing outrage over remarks characterising Mexicans as lazy and oafish.
In the episode, which was viewed by more than 6 million people, presenter Richard Hammond (centre) claimed that cars imitate national characteristics Photo: BBC
Jeremy Clarkson went on to joke that being Mexican would be "brilliant" because then he could sleep all day
Photo: BBC
02 Feb 2011
The Telegraph
Ambassador Eduardo Medina Mora Icaza complained in a letter to the BBC that Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May used what he described as bigoted stereotypes against Mexicans in a Sunday broadcast.
In the episode, which was viewed by more than 6 million people, Hammond claimed that cars imitate national characteristics.
"Mexican cars are just going to be a lazy, ****less, flatulent, oaf with a moustache leaning against a fence asleep looking at a cactus with a blanket with a hole in the middle on as a coat," he said.
Clarkson went on to joke that being Mexican would be "brilliant" because then he could sleep all day.
He said he was confident he would not receive any complaints about their comments because the Mexican ambassador would be asleep.
However, the ambassador did complain and wrote: "It is utterly incomprehensible and unacceptable that the premiere broadcaster should allow three of its presenters to display their bigotry and ignorance by mocking the people and culture of our country with such vehemence," the ambassador wrote.
The letter said the trio's "outrageous, vulgar" insults reinforce negative stereotypes and inflame racism against Mexicans.
The BBC did not comment but said it would respond directly to Mr Mora. Representatives for Hammond, Clarkson and May could not immediately be reached for comment.
The show's unscripted format —and large personalities — are no stranger to controversy. Clarkson once apologised for making unsavory jokes about truck drivers killing prostitutes and separately took heat for calling former Prime Minister Gordon Brown a "one-eyed Scottish idiot".
Last week, the programme was named most popular factual show at the National TV Awards.
telegraph.co.uk
Ambassador Eduardo Medina Mora Icaza wrote a letter to the BBC stating the show's presenters, Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond, used bigoted stereotypes against Mexicans.
In a Sunday episode, watched by 6 million people, Richard Hammond claimed that cars imitate national characteristics. He said: "Mexican cars are just going to be a lazy, ****less, flatulent, oaf with a moustache leaning against a fence asleep looking at a cactus with a blanket with a hole in the middle on as a coat," he said.
The show's presenters, especially Jeremy Clarkson, are not exactly known for their political correctness (and that's probably why they are popular). A couple of years ago, Jeremy Clarkson took it upon himself to launch an attack against a more traditional enemy of the English - the Scots. On an episode of Top Gear, he called the then Prime Minister Gordon Brown a "one-eyed Scottish idiot." Brown is blind in one eye as a result of an injury he sustained whilst playing rugby at his school in Kirkcaldy in 1967.
Mexico complains about 'vulgar' Top Gear
Mexico's ambassador to London has demanded an apology from the presenters of "Top Gear," expressing outrage over remarks characterising Mexicans as lazy and oafish.
In the episode, which was viewed by more than 6 million people, presenter Richard Hammond (centre) claimed that cars imitate national characteristics Photo: BBC
Jeremy Clarkson went on to joke that being Mexican would be "brilliant" because then he could sleep all day
Photo: BBC
02 Feb 2011
The Telegraph
Ambassador Eduardo Medina Mora Icaza complained in a letter to the BBC that Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May used what he described as bigoted stereotypes against Mexicans in a Sunday broadcast.
In the episode, which was viewed by more than 6 million people, Hammond claimed that cars imitate national characteristics.
"Mexican cars are just going to be a lazy, ****less, flatulent, oaf with a moustache leaning against a fence asleep looking at a cactus with a blanket with a hole in the middle on as a coat," he said.
Clarkson went on to joke that being Mexican would be "brilliant" because then he could sleep all day.
He said he was confident he would not receive any complaints about their comments because the Mexican ambassador would be asleep.
However, the ambassador did complain and wrote: "It is utterly incomprehensible and unacceptable that the premiere broadcaster should allow three of its presenters to display their bigotry and ignorance by mocking the people and culture of our country with such vehemence," the ambassador wrote.
The letter said the trio's "outrageous, vulgar" insults reinforce negative stereotypes and inflame racism against Mexicans.
The BBC did not comment but said it would respond directly to Mr Mora. Representatives for Hammond, Clarkson and May could not immediately be reached for comment.
The show's unscripted format —and large personalities — are no stranger to controversy. Clarkson once apologised for making unsavory jokes about truck drivers killing prostitutes and separately took heat for calling former Prime Minister Gordon Brown a "one-eyed Scottish idiot".
Last week, the programme was named most popular factual show at the National TV Awards.
telegraph.co.uk