If one is looking to defend Clarkson (which I'm not) it's not 100% clear exactly what he says, and that particular clip was not actually broadcast.
If he was on a US network he'd be fired by the end of the week (Google Donald Sterling if anyone doubts that), will be interesting to see what happens here.
It was never broadcast. ...and in anycase it was mumbled so badly that it couldn't be made out clearly, and the only people who would know what the word was supposed to be were those who have used or heard it before.
It's hard to hear clearly but I can't think what else he could be saying.
Is the mumbling of one word going to be the end of BBC's biggest brand and Clarkson's career? I don't think so. No fan of Clarkson's is going to be particularly upset. The BBC may have an awkward time defending it though.
My nephew's school use the words 'tigger' or squirrel'. In that clip he could be using either of those. The only people who heard the dreaded n-word are the spittle-flecked 'liberals' who have an unhealthy obsession with it.
These are people whose mission in life is to constantly search for ways to get Jeremy sacked and to bring their bete noir (TG) to an end.
You've also got to remember that the Mirror has it in for Clarkson because of his ongoing spat with its ex-editor.
clarkson can do anything and the BBC wont act, he says the n word, its apparent that he did, he will ride it out as he brings too much revenue.
No he can't.
and it isn't apparent that he did at all. If you weren't brought up in the fifties and sixties you probably wouldn't even know the rhyme.
I suspect the production team wanted to use eeny, meeny miny mo to demonstrate exactly how similar the cars were. There was one shot taken with him going a - a ah ah - a a o while they worled out what word to use.
Not intended for broadcast, didn't use the N word. Typically the Mirror with another anti BBC / Clarkson story.
It was never broadcast. ...and in anycase it was mumbled so badly that it couldn't be made out clearly, and the only people who would know what the word was supposed to be were those who have used or heard it before.
Such a non-story that it's on the main page of pretty much every UK newspaper's website.
I'm fairly sure none of Andy Gray's sexist remarks were broadcast on Sky Sports, that didn't help him.
and it isn't apparent that he did at all. If you weren't brought up in the fifties and sixties you probably wouldn't even know the rhyme.
I suspect the production team wanted to use eeny, meeny miny mo to demonstrate exactly how similar the cars were. There was one shot taken with him going a - a ah ah - a a o while they worled out what word to use.
Not intended for broadcast, didn't use the N word. Typically the Mirror with another anti BBC / Clarkson story.
I hope he sues.
I was bought up in the eighties and it was very much a known rhyme in that form around the playground.
The whole thing is ridiculous. I would not support Clarkson if he had used it and I think the word not being used is a very good thing indeed. But even if he had used it (which there is zero evidence of), there is no evidence of malice or racist intent within his use of it, more an indication of rebelling against political correctness.
It should also be noted Clarkson writes for that newspapers rival, The Sun.
This does put Richard Hammond's contract as a columnist with the Mirror in an interesting place, especially if Clarkson does sue.
On principle I won't go anywhere near the Daily Mail. What's their angle - presumably confused between hating the BBC and hating political correctness?
I though Gray's remarks were actually directed at another presenter.
Clarkson was using a rhyme that those over a certain age were brought up using. I use it myself on occasions!!
PC gone too far again.
I agree with you.we all said it every day f our childhoods,its just a rhyme, the black kids said it, the white kids said it,no one took offence and no one hated anyone else because of it.
JC would have used it every day as well, it will be ingrained in his mind, he doesnt even say the word, you can hear he goes out of his way to replace it with a mumble along the lines of 'nerner nerner nerner toe '
If the whole thing is so innocent and inoffensive I wonder why Top Gear didn't air that particular clip, Clarkson is so quick to deny that he used the word in question, and why it's on the front page of every UK newspaper website. On the back, of course, of him indisputably using a racist expression on an episode a few weeks ago.
And I strongly advise various forum users not to recite what the perceive to be a harmless nursery rhyme next time they are e.g. riding the New York subway.
This whole "it's a generation" thing is utter drivel. Racism is racism is racism. I don't care how old you are or how you were brought up, it should never, ever be acceptable.
It's clear to me he uses the N word. Just like he's used other derogatory comments in the past.
The man is nothing more than a cretin. A giant oath who gets his kicks from cars and poking fun at anyone he deems lower than himself.
No he will not be sacked. If you have to call in language experts to determine what he is saying then clearly it is not obvious that he was being racist. The fact it was not even broadcast means nobody could have been offended by it cause they never heard it.
Comments
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/may/01/jeremy-clarkson-not-use-n-word
And here's the link to the Mirror story, with the video clip in question:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/video-watch-jeremy-clarkson-use-3481201
If one is looking to defend Clarkson (which I'm not) it's not 100% clear exactly what he says, and that particular clip was not actually broadcast.
If he was on a US network he'd be fired by the end of the week (Google Donald Sterling if anyone doubts that), will be interesting to see what happens here.
It was never broadcast. ...and in anycase it was mumbled so badly that it couldn't be made out clearly, and the only people who would know what the word was supposed to be were those who have used or heard it before.
Is the mumbling of one word going to be the end of BBC's biggest brand and Clarkson's career? I don't think so. No fan of Clarkson's is going to be particularly upset. The BBC may have an awkward time defending it though.
These are people whose mission in life is to constantly search for ways to get Jeremy sacked and to bring their bete noir (TG) to an end.
You've also got to remember that the Mirror has it in for Clarkson because of his ongoing spat with its ex-editor.
No he can't.
and it isn't apparent that he did at all. If you weren't brought up in the fifties and sixties you probably wouldn't even know the rhyme.
I suspect the production team wanted to use eeny, meeny miny mo to demonstrate exactly how similar the cars were. There was one shot taken with him going a - a ah ah - a a o while they worled out what word to use.
Not intended for broadcast, didn't use the N word. Typically the Mirror with another anti BBC / Clarkson story.
I hope he sues.
Desperate.
Such a non-story that it's on the main page of pretty much every UK newspaper's website.
I'm fairly sure none of Andy Gray's sexist remarks were broadcast on Sky Sports, that didn't help him.
No. He slurs the word deliberately but it starts with a hard "n". There`s nothing else it can be.
Stupid Clarkson. It`s not The Mirror that`s gone too far......
The difference being that Andy Gray actually said ithem
I thought Gray's remarks were actually directed at another presenter.
Clarkson was using a rhyme that those over a certain age were brought up using. I use it myself on occasions!!
PC gone too far again.
I was bought up in the eighties and it was very much a known rhyme in that form around the playground.
The whole thing is ridiculous. I would not support Clarkson if he had used it and I think the word not being used is a very good thing indeed. But even if he had used it (which there is zero evidence of), there is no evidence of malice or racist intent within his use of it, more an indication of rebelling against political correctness.
It should also be noted Clarkson writes for that newspapers rival, The Sun.
This does put Richard Hammond's contract as a columnist with the Mirror in an interesting place, especially if Clarkson does sue.
On principle I won't go anywhere near the Daily Mail. What's their angle - presumably confused between hating the BBC and hating political correctness?
Any made up word? Nunnah?
This whole thing feels as silly as fuss as plebgate..
I agree with you.we all said it every day f our childhoods,its just a rhyme, the black kids said it, the white kids said it,no one took offence and no one hated anyone else because of it.
JC would have used it every day as well, it will be ingrained in his mind, he doesnt even say the word, you can hear he goes out of his way to replace it with a mumble along the lines of 'nerner nerner nerner toe '
Is this what passes as news these days?
And why would he mumble it if it were a made-up word?
My 10 year old knows it as
''Eeny meeny minie moe, you are not it''
No toes, no hollering, no tiggers. its not even a rhyme really anymore.
And I strongly advise various forum users not to recite what the perceive to be a harmless nursery rhyme next time they are e.g. riding the New York subway.
It's clear to me he uses the N word. Just like he's used other derogatory comments in the past.
The man is nothing more than a cretin. A giant oath who gets his kicks from cars and poking fun at anyone he deems lower than himself.
The BBC won't fire him. But I wish they would.