Jeremy Clarkson Suspended from Top Gear: Controversy Explained
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Jeremy Clarkson Suspended from Top Gear
BBC Announcement
In a surprising move for fans of the show Top Gear—the world’s most famous automotive television program—the BBC announced that it has suspended host Jeremy Clarkson pending the outcome of an investigation into an incident involving the presenter. The BBC also stated that the remaining episodes of the current season of Top Gear have been cancelled.
Details of the Incident
The BBC's press release described the incident as a "fracas" that may have involved physical altercation. Reports indicate that Jeremy Clarkson struck a producer's assistant in the face following what appears to be a verbal dispute. According to sources, the incident occurred last week but was only reported on Monday, leading the BBC to decide on Tuesday to suspend the presenter and cancel the remaining three episodes of Season 22 of Top Gear.
Jeremy Clarkson's Previous Troubles
It’s not surprising that Clarkson finds himself in hot water again, as this is not the first time he has faced trouble due to his words or actions. Last May, he faced backlash for using a racial slur while filming an episode in Burma.
While filming a Top Gear episode in Argentina, Clarkson was accused of using a license plate that was offensive to the Argentine people, specifically the plate reading (H982 FKL), referencing the Falklands War of 1982, which Argentina lost to the United Kingdom. Clarkson initially denied the accusations, claiming it was a coincidence, before it became clear that it was intentional.
Previous Warnings
Clarkson had previously stated that the BBC had issued him a final warning, indicating that he would be fired if he engaged in any inappropriate behavior at any time or place.
Gary Lineker's Comments
It is worth noting that next Sunday’s episode was supposed to feature former footballer Gary Lineker in a segment titled “Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.” Following the news of the show's cancellation, Lineker tweeted that it seems he is not destined to drive on Top Gear after all, and it appears that he is not meant to be on the show either.
