BBC apologises (again) for Jeremy Clarkson remarks

csv8 · 02-12-2011, 09:08 AM

BBC apologises (again) for Jeremy Clarkson remarks
By David Knox on December 1, 2011Filed Under News
When he appeared on BBC’s The One Show, Top Gear‘s Jeremy Clarkson was asked what he would do with the two million public servants who have been striking over changes to their pensions.
“I would have them all shot,” he said.
“I would take them outside and execute them in front of their families.
As laughter emerged in the studio, presenters Matt Baker and Alex Jones, were left speechless.
His comments sparked instant condemnation from viewers, who angrily posted furious comments on Twitter. But others applauded his controversial statements, saying they were clearly said a joke.
The public broadcaster issued a swift on-air apology, saying Clarkson sometimes overstepped the mark in his quest for “comic” value.
A BBC spokeswoman said: “The One Show apologised at the end of the show to viewers who may have been offended by Jeremy Clarkson’s comments.”
John Prescott, the former deputy Prime Minister, added: “I know Jeremy Clarkson likes winding people up but it’s worth pointing out he gets £1m a year from the license fee/public sector”.

Wretched · 02-12-2011, 09:09 AM

jeez what happened to a sense of humor these days?

Fev · 02-12-2011, 09:17 AM

hahahah probably not the most sensitive of remarks at the time but its taken out of context. Reading it without hearing the sarcasm dripping off every word - then the papers pick it up and the public reads each word imagining JC is brandishing weapons at the workers lol

flappist · 02-12-2011, 09:26 AM

Yep the world is full of tiny little people who are angry with everything and just sit around all day waiting for anything that the can be offended by to try and make them feel more important by taking some theoretical high ground position.

Clarkson, on the other hand, has just got yet another world wide free publicity run.

If the wowsers really wanted to hurt Clarkson all they have to do is ignore him but then no one would hear there complaints so they would not get any publicity either.....and really that is what it is all about......

b2tf · 02-12-2011, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

Yep the world is full of tiny little people who are angry with everything and just sit around all day waiting for anything that the can be offended by to try and make them feel more important by taking some theoretical high ground position.

I think I work with these people........

prasac · 02-12-2011, 09:44 AM

aren't the Germans the ones said to not have a sense of humor? guess can throw the English in with them now.

**DJR-351** · 02-12-2011, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prasac

aren't the Germans the ones said to not have a sense of humor? guess can throw the English in with them now.

Have a good look around our own backyard mate, it's just as bad..............

RedHotGT · 02-12-2011, 10:03 AM

Perhaps it could be seen as offensive - but I'm curious as to what context his comments were taken in...

Did the complainers think that Jeremy was actually going to lobby/petition for the 2million people to be executed?

Good on Jeremy... Free Speech...

Plus you've gotta give the Wowsers something to complain about...

Jim Goose · 02-12-2011, 10:12 AM

Clarkson is known for his dry sence of humour, so whats the issue really?

What ever happened to the poms sence of humour???

aussie muscle · 02-12-2011, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

What ever happened to the poms sence of humour???

it went the same way as their masculinity

**GasoLane** · 02-12-2011, 11:50 AM

Someone contact the BBC and see if they would swap Jeremy Clarkson for Kyle Sandilands

Gnome · 03-12-2011, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Someone contact the BBC and see if they would swap Jeremy Clarkson for Kyle Sandilands

Fantastic trade in my book.

2011G6E · 03-12-2011, 02:51 AM

To the protestors I'd say take a joke you miserable buggers...he's just given you a heap of free publicity...remember the storm of controversy after he made some wise-cracks about Mexico and the quality (or otherwise) of the cars we could expect out of them...high government officials in that country were getting involved, outrage was causing anger all over the shop.
Just after that at the Top Gear Live show in Brissy, at the start of the show Clarkson and May thanked the audience for the warm welcome everyone gave them in Oz..."Better than the reception we're going to get in Mexico...", and the audience cracked up laughing and clapping. We didn't all go "Ooooooo", in hushed tones and making comments about "You intolerant and insensitive man!"...we laughed, as we were supposed to...I assume a Mexican audience would laugh if he had just come from Australia and started making jokes about us. We laughed because we knew it was a joke, and we also laughed when he made fun of Australian cars, the way we spoke, and the weather. That's what a "comedy" event is like.
When that same presenter shows that when off-stage he is also making jokes and wise-cracks on subjects, still very much in character, wer also laugh. Too many "funny" people show themselves to be desperately unfunny people-hating nasty bastards when away from the cameras.

grandpa_spec_F6 · 02-12-2011, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

What ever happened to the poms sence of humour???

During the late 18th and 19th century, most of the comedians and larrikins of the time were transported over to a little known place called "OZtrail-e-ahh"

RIPGMH · 02-12-2011, 06:51 PM

Comedians are always trying to push boundaries (buttons), he hasn't found it yet so he'll push on. The union should be thanking him, his just drawn more attention to the lazy ****** than a month of industrial action.

SS_01 · 02-12-2011, 10:29 AM

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, people need to lighten up. This clearly shows whats wrong with the world these days when humor is misconstrued.

Fev · 02-12-2011, 10:40 AM

People don't understand sarcasm when they read it - especially put intot he wrong context in a news paper - its quite obvious he's not being serious. Problem is people that are prone to actually make complaints about things generally have no sense of humor and are that sheltered they take everything they read at face value.

Scaffy · 02-12-2011, 12:07 PM

From another point of view. Has anyone here never been offended by a joke. Your boss goes and makes drastic changes to your pension plan/superannuation which could effect your way of life after retirement, which will more than likely effect your whole family. You wouldn't be happy. That's 2 million people! Around 3% of the population. For everyone concerned, it's no laughing matter. They're fighting tooth and nail for what they feel they're entitled to, then some high-profile clown is broadcast across the country, making a mockery out of them and their fight. You expect no-one to complain?

bluovl · 02-12-2011, 12:21 PM

If his remark was a 'joke' Im sorry but it just wasn't funny. I'm sure the pompous twat would be upset if somebody got on television and said members of his family should be lined up and raped. I guess his pathetic attempts at 'sarcasm' appeal to some.

Wretched · 02-12-2011, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluovl

If his remark was a 'joke' Im sorry but it just wasn't funny. I'm sure the pompous twat would be upset if somebody got on television and said members of his family should be lined up and raped. I guess his pathetic attempts at 'sarcasm' appeal to some.

What?

bluovl · 02-12-2011, 01:49 PM

No, he didn't mention rape, I did. I asked how would he like it if someone 'joked' about his family being raped. I dont reckon it would sit to well with him. Same as his 'joke' about shooting workers doesn't sit well with the people he offended. Hence an apology from the BBC.
But I guess this 'journalist' got the attention he and his fans feed on.
We wont all agree.

Rodp · 02-12-2011, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluovl

If his remark was a 'joke' Im sorry but it just wasn't funny. I'm sure the pompous twat would be upset if somebody got on television and said members of his family should be lined up and raped. I guess his pathetic attempts at 'sarcasm' appeal to some.

It's not a matter of appealing to anyone or even it being very funny - it was never meant to be taken seriously - in fact, nothing Clarkson says should be taken seriously, particularly his reviews of motor vehicles.

I'm sure the pompous twat wouldn't care if someone got on television and said members of his family should be lined up and shot, would just equal more publicity for him.

RedHotGT · 02-12-2011, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scaffy

From another point of view. Has anyone here never been offended by a joke. Your boss goes and makes drastic changes to your pension plan/superannuation which could effect your way of life after retirement, which will more than likely effect your whole family. You wouldn't be happy. That's 2 million people! Around 3% of the population. For everyone concerned, it's no laughing matter. They're fighting tooth and nail for what they feel they're entitled to, then some high-profile clown is broadcast across the country, making a mockery out of them and their fight. You expect no-one to complain?

Was Jeremy one of these employess?? If not - then why was he asked the question?

bungarra · 02-12-2011, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scaffy

From another point of view. Has anyone here never been offended by a joke. Your boss goes and makes drastic changes to your pension plan/superannuation which could effect your way of life after retirement, which will more than likely effect your whole family. You wouldn't be happy. That's 2 million people! Around 3% of the population. For everyone concerned, it's no laughing matter. They're fighting tooth and nail for what they feel they're entitled to, then some high-profile clown is broadcast across the country, making a mockery out of them and their fight. You expect no-one to complain?

Thats why we have legislation about our super and they also have the choice like us to change pension funds as I did when I was in the UK, so they could just look for a better fund!
Having worked in the UK, I brought more out of my UK fund to my Australian fund after two years than I did in 5 years at a higher pay in Australia.
Protesting just seems the way of the world these days unfortunately.
As fo Clarkson's comment, anyone listening to it or having watcghed him would have known it was sarcasm, except those who just want to whinge.

vztrt · 02-12-2011, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bungarra

Protesting just seems the way of the world these days unfortunately.

People have been protesting for a very long time. Maybe look up what was going on in the 70's. Its peanuts what we see now.

2011G6E · 02-12-2011, 05:54 PM

These idiots have seen Top Gear at some stage haven't they? Or been to a live stage show of thiers?

Geez, at the Top Gear Live show in Brisbane back in March that I went to see, they spent quite some time taking the mickey out of Australia and Australians...everyone laughed, no one ran for lawyers or walked out in outrage.

"They can feel as entitled to it as they like. The country needs to be able to afford it.
Is it any coincidence all the countries in europe with problems are the most welfare-generous?"

Truer words were never spoken...such as the French protesting a few years back when they wanted to up the working week from 35 hours to 38, or the current problems where they want to put the retirement age up from 60 to 64 or 65...

b0son · 02-12-2011, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scaffy

They're fighting tooth and nail for what they feel they're entitled to

They can feel as entitled to it as they like. The country needs to be able to afford it.

Is it any coincidence all the countries in europe with problems are the most welfare-generous?

Fev · 02-12-2011, 12:42 PM

Where did rape come from? No ones said anything about rape..

Lotte · 02-12-2011, 02:12 PM

"As laughter emerged in the studio, presenters Matt Baker and Alex Jones, were left speechless."

Hasn't anyone figured out yet, they're paid to look speechless whenever he says something oh so controversial? That's, you know, part of their job.

As for the joke, yeah... it was a joke. I'm sure everyone who gets offended at clarksons jokes, makes jokes that would offend someone else without thinking twice.

Chopped · 02-12-2011, 02:25 PM

I wouldn't like someone making jokes about my pay cuts, who would ?. (Especially from someone who is rolling in it)

The problem with having to be an insensitive loudmouth to get attention is that eventually everyone gets sick of you. Just like that chef that swears all the time or that Kyle fella. Top Gear is coming to the end of it's shelf life anyway.

I much prefer James May.

There is "free" speech and then there is also "dumb" speech. These two get confused by many people.