Former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond has been criticised for linking eating ice-cream with being gay on the latest episode of the Grand Tour, the motoring show he co-hosts with Jeremy Clarkson and James May.

The exchange occurred on Happy Finnish Christmas, the sixth episode of the first season of the Grand Tour, which broadcast on Amazon Prime on 23 December.

In front of a live audience, Clarkson pointed to an image of the interior of a Rolls Royce, saying: “The only problem is that in one of those, you couldn’t enjoy a chocolate Magnum ice-cream.”

“It’s all right, I don’t eat ice-cream,” replied Hammond. “It’s something to do with being straight.”

Clarkson and May appeared taken aback as members of the studio audience applauded and cheered.

“Why are you applauding him?” Clarkson, aghast, asked the crowd. “What do you mean? … You’re saying all children are homosexual?"

Hammond dug further into his opinion, adding: “ice-cream is a bit – you know. There’s nothing wrong with it, but a grown man eating an ice-cream – it’s that way, rather than that way …"

“I’m right. I can’t believe you can’t see that. It’s easy. It’s in front of you.”

The exchange was met with disdain on Twitter.

Source: The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-r...the-grand-tour

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Personally I am amazed that he would say this and that Amazon would broadcast it! If Hammond was still on the BBC he would have been sacked for making comments like that. I saw the episode and as a straight ally of LGBT rights, I was shocked and annoyed that they thought those kinds of comments were still acceptable.

It's not the most macho thing a man can do, so I guess it makes sense to his warped view of reality but few other people are likely to agree with him!

How stupid It doesn't even make sense as a joke. An ice cream isn't phallic, if that's what he's trying to get at. It's not a hot dog or a banana. How bizarre. It actually sounds like something one of our resident homophobic trolls would say.

It just seems a bit lame. They should stick to the casual racism and comparing penis sizes that's where their strength lies

it's interesting how people reveal their hidden prejudices

Not worth getting worked up about really. Clarkson and Hammond make slightly outrageous or mildly offensive comments for money. I don't like that kind of thing so I avoid watching them. However, in the great scheme of things their fake opinions have almost zero real impact unless you want them to. It's what rolling your eyes and moving on was invented for.

People need to get over themselves and get a grip on more serious issues going on in the world.
What a humorless world we seem to be heading towards when every comment made by anyone is picked apart by one group or another because they feel oppressed. Its life ffs, deal with it.

Very odd comment but all the more ice cream for me.

Not a real hamster.

Fun fact. I knew a guy who convinced that eating Jaffa Cakes meant you were gay.

Some people are really weird like that.

This sums it up
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/c...20161227119451

The only people who ever really say this is straight white men.

They're going too far with the "haha look at us we're not on the BBC anymore we can say anything" antics. It's childish.

I never eat ice-cream alone in public for this reason. I do eat it if I'm out with the Mrs, but I make sure I hold her hand and never get sprinkles or strawberry sauce.

I gave my kids a bit of a tongue-lashing about this recently. One of them described something, an item of clothing, I think, as 'a bit gay'. They were a bit vague about what they meant but it seems to be accepted schoolyard parlance.

Oh no you just said the "w" word.

It's Ice Cream. It tastes nice. If eating ice cream means I have a little bit of homosexual in me, then so be it! I'll happily take some Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough Ice Cream thanks!

Next thing you know it'll be gay to eat pasta.

The original Amazon ad actually put me off Clarkson even more. His back must be killing him from that chip on his shoulder that he's carrying around.

I'm pretty sure people can be annoyed at casual homophobia and get a grip on issues like cancer and war tbh.

Multitasking is a thing.

God why are my fellow gays so sensitive? Is it because we have all the equality we ever wanted so now we can only get outraged over stupid comments like this?

It's the Wall's pro-gay agenda!

How does this man get by driving a car when he has to touch a gear stick!?

This is cracking me up for some reason.

As a gay guy this doesn't offend me because I'm not easily offended. Straight friends of mine often say things are gay, but yet they don't mean it the way some people think.

We seem to have developed such thin shells lately, I miss proper comedy which we can't have anymore because 1 person might get offended.

I have an idea, what about easily offended stickers? they could be round and purple and you put them on your shirt and then at least people know not to say the slightest thing around them. Then when there's a comedy gig on they could turn away the purple badges and say "sorry, I don't think this is for you".

Isn't the show scripted? Or do they just turn up and say whatever comes into their heads?

- why is eating ice-cream "not the most macho thing a man can do" can you give me a list of foods you would consider macho?

I don't like ice cream - hope that's ok as I am a girl and not in the least bit macho. I guess I'm failing at some sort of life thing I didn't even know existed.

Can you not see how ridiculous equating food to masculinity is?

Richard Hammond is just an idiot and best ignored.