Top Gear controversies: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia
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Line 27: === Wales === The show received backlash in 2002 when Clarkson suggested that everybody should test drive their cars in Wales because "no-one wants to live there" in the second episode of season one.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2002-10-31 |title=Biker banned days after TV gaffe |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/2383275.stm |url-status=live |access-date=2021-06-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213707/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/2383275.stm |archive-date=2 June 2021}}</ref> The comments were the subject of a complaint to the BBC by Labour AM [[Alun Pugh]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Misstear |first1=Rachel |title=Jeremy Clarkson, Top Gear and Wales: Five moments that sparked controversy |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/jeremy-clarkson-top-gear-wales-8918230 |access-date=24 August 2024 |agency=Wales Online |date=25 March 2015}}</ref> Presenter James May would later claim that following this comment, and years of offending Welsh viewers<ref>{{cite news |title=James May receives death threats |url=https://www.news24.com/life/top-gear-receives-death-threats-20110216 |access-date=24 August 2024 |agency=News24 |date=16 February 2011}}</ref> the presenters had received "threats on our lives", adding that the Welsh "really took offence" and referencing the Mexico controversy by stating "It isn’t the Mexicans we have to worry about - it is the Welsh". May criticised the response saying "People shouldn’t take what we say seriously".<ref>{{cite web |last1=McLennan |first1=Patrick |title=Top Gear hosts targeted after Welsh jibes |url=https://www.whattowatch.com/news/top-gear-hosts-targeted-after-welsh-jibes-239931 |website=WhattoWatch |access-date=24 August 2024 |date=13 February 2011}}</ref> === USA === The show frequently mocks American culture === Germany === Line 73 ⟶ 75: During episode seven of [[Top Gear (series 12)|series 12]], Clarkson presented a segment featuring the [[Tesla Roadster (2008)|Tesla Roadster]], including a test drive. The segment showed the car's provided batteries running flat after {{convert|88.5|km|mi}}, with Clarkson claiming that the recharge would take 16 hours. Following this, he claimed that the car then broke down. A [[Tesla Motors]] spokesperson stated that the cars provided never reached less than 20% charge, none needed to be pushed off the track at any point, the recharge time was 3.5 hours, and the brake failure shown in the segment was actually a blown fuse.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 December 2008 |title=Tesla clears up some of Clarkson's claims during Tesla Roadster test drive |url=http://www.egmcartech.com/2008/12/16/tesla-clears-up-some-of-clarksons-calims-during-tesla-roadster-test-drive/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221124937/http://www.egmcartech.com/2008/12/16/tesla-clears-up-some-of-clarksons-calims-during-tesla-roadster-test-drive/ |archive-date=21 February 2009 |access-date=5 May 2009 |publisher=egmCarTech}}</ref><ref name="teslacriesfoul">{{Cite magazine |last=Squatriglia |first=Chuck |date=16 December 2008 |title=Tesla Cries Foul on Top Gear's Test |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/autopia/2008/12/tesla-cries-fou/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504071450/http://www.wired.com/autopia/2008/12/tesla-cries-fou/ |archive-date=4 May 2009}}</ref> The BBC responded to these claims with a statement saying, "The tested Tesla was filmed being pushed into the shed in order to show what would happen if the Roadster had run out of charge. ''Top Gear'' stands by the findings in this film and is content that it offers a fair representation of the Tesla's performance on the day it was tested", without addressing the other concerns.<ref name="teslacriesfoul" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Alun |date=22 December 2008 |title=BBC: Top Gear Tesla didn't run out of juice • Register Hardware |url=http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/12/22/bbc_top_gear_tesla/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418025022/http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/12/22/bbc_top_gear_tesla/ |archive-date=18 April 2009 |access-date=5 May 2009 |publisher=Reghardware.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Doggett |first=Scott |date=22 December 2008 |title=Tesla Roadster Reviewed by Jeremy Clarkson Didn't Run Out of Juice as He Claimed |url=http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2008/12/tesla-roadster-reviewed-by-jeremy-clarkson-didnt-run-out-of-juice-as-he-claimed.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326082224/http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2008/12/tesla-roadster-reviewed-by-jeremy-clarkson-didnt-run-out-of-juice-as-he-claimed.html |archive-date=26 March 2009 |access-date=23 November 2011 |website=Auto Observer}}</ref> The comments were made following Clarkson showing a limp windmill, and complaining that it would take countless hours to recharge the car, using such a source of electricity. A BBC spokeswoman said several times in an interview that ''Top Gear'' was "an entertainment programme, and should not be taken seriously."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chang |first=Richard S |date=30 December 2008 |title=Was 'Top Gear' Test of the Tesla Misleading? |publisher=New York Times Wheels Blog |url=http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/30/was-top-gears-test-of-tesla-roadster-misleading |url-status=live |access-date=10 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100409141010/http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/30/was-top-gears-test-of-tesla-roadster-misleading/ |archive-date=9 April 2010}}</ref> After several weeks, Clarkson wrote a blog for ''The Times'', acknowledging that "the film we had shot was a bit of a mess", but defending the film's claims.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Clarkson |first=Jeremy |date=11 January 2009 |title=Tesla Roadster |work=The Times |location=London |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/jeremy_clarkson/article5483422.ece?token=null&offset=12&page=1 |url-status= In court Tesla Motors lost a major part of its high court libel claim on 19 October 2011. Justice Tugendhat said that no ''Top Gear'' viewer would have reasonably compared the car's performance on the show's airfield track to its likely performance on a public road.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Halliday |first=Josh |date=19 October 2011 |title=Top Gear did not libel carmaker Tesla, high court rules |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/oct/19/top-gear-not-libel-tesla |url-status=live |access-date=13 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202100612/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/oct/19/top-gear-not-libel-tesla |archive-date=2 February 2017}}</ref> On 28 October 2011 the carmaker looked set to lose the remaining malicious falsehood claim, Justice Tugendhat saying "I shall strike out the claim in this action unless the plea of damage is amended by agreement between the parties, or with the permission of the court."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Halliday |first=Josh |date=28 October 2011 |title=Top Gear case: Tesla to lose malicious falsehood claim if it can't show damage |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/oct/28/top-gear-tesla-malicious-falsehood |url-status=live |access-date=13 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202100110/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/oct/28/top-gear-tesla-malicious-falsehood |archive-date=2 February 2017}}</ref> Tesla's court action was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in 2013.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Halliday |first=Josh |date=2013-03-05 |title=Top Gear row: Tesla loses appeal over Jeremy Clarkson review |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/mar/05/top-gear-tesla-jeremy-clarkson |url-status=live |access-date=2019-01-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130053142/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/mar/05/top-gear-tesla-jeremy-clarkson |archive-date=30 January 2019 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> ==Suspension and Dismissal of Jeremy Clarkson from ''Top Gear''== In March 2015, the BBC announced [[Jeremy Clarkson]] had been suspended for allegedly punching a producer over a confrontation regarding cold food and long filming hours, and that the remaining episodes of the series would not be broadcast.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 March 2015 |title=Jeremy Clarkson 'punch': Top Gear episodes to be dropped |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-31828184 |url-status=live |access-date=20 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705131605/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-31828184 |archive-date=5 July 2018}}</ref> In response to this, over 1,000,000 people signed an online petition to try to get the BBC to reinstate Clarkson.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 March 2015 |title=Petition backing Jeremy Clarkson hits one million signatures |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/bbc/11485289/The-Stig-delivers-Jeremy-Clarkson-petition-to-BBC.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320133720/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/bbc/11485289/The-Stig-delivers-Jeremy-Clarkson-petition-to-BBC.html |archive-date=20 March 2015}}</ref> [[Perry McCarthy]], a former [[The Stig|Stig]], criticised the BBC's decision to pull the next episode from the schedule.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 March 2015 |title=Jeremy Clarkson: BBC reaction 'ridiculous', says former Stig |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-31828943 |url-status=live |access-date=20 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117195348/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-31828943 |archive-date=17 November 2016}}</ref> On 25 March, the BBC announced that they would not renew Clarkson's contract which finished at the end of March 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 March 2015 |title=Jeremy Clarkson 'could make Top Gear comeback in Australia' |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/bbc/11502355/Jeremy-Clarkson-could-make-Top-Gear-comeback-in-Australia.html |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516103451/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/bbc/11502355/Jeremy-Clarkson-could-make-Top-Gear-comeback-in-Australia.html |archive-date=16 May 2018}}</ref> Following the official decision, James May and Richard Hammond presented their resignation to the BBC in solidarity with their partner and in order to pursue further ventures together. This would lead to the creation of ''[[The Grand Tour]]''. The show received widespread criticism after Jeremy Clarkson's contract was not renewed, addressing the importance of the confrontation but remarking the severity of the decision. ==Specific criticism == ===Series 2=== Line 164 ⟶ 166: === Series 20 === The show was criticised by [[Māori people]]s for the filming of a car driving on [[Ninety Mile Beach, New Zealand|Ninety Mile Beach]], which although it is a public road is considered sacred by Māori tribes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=90 Mile Beach action with BBC's Top Gear sparks apology |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/90-mile-beach-action-with-bbcs-top-gear-sparks-apology/LZHMZ3RAOIN5IE47Q3WIHDNKKU/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213908/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/90-mile-beach-action-with-bbcs-top-gear-sparks-apology/LZHMZ3RAOIN5IE47Q3WIHDNKKU/ |archive-date=2 June 2021 |access-date=2021-06-01 |website=NZ Herald |date=7 March 2013 |language=en-NZ}}</ref> ===Series 21=== Line 182 ⟶ 184: During the first series after Clarkson, May and Hammond's departure, the BBC came under criticism for filming [[Ken Block]] speeding and performing [[Doughnut (driving)|doughnuts]] near [[The Cenotaph, Whitehall|the London Cenotaph]] but defended the decision to film there by saying "The filming took place a respectful distance away from the Cenotaph and it was all agreed with Westminster council in advance."<ref>{{Cite news |agency=Press Association |date=13 March 2016 |title=Top Gear bosses defend filming near Cenotaph memorial |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/mar/14/top-gear-bosses-defend-filming-near-cenotaph-memorial |url-status=live |access-date=13 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231034601/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/mar/14/top-gear-bosses-defend-filming-near-cenotaph-memorial |archive-date=31 December 2016}}</ref> === Borneo Special === The show received some criticism when a rare [[Matra Bagheera]] was significantly damaged during the Borneo Special in 2019 . At the time of filming there were only 5 road worthy examples of this model in existence.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://carobsession.co.uk/single-post/2019/07/07/top-gear-series-27-episode-4-review-not-appreciating-classics/ | title=Top Gear Series 27 Episode 4 review: Not appreciating classics | date=7 July 2019 }}</ref> ==References== | |||