Jeremy Clarkson, put on final warning by the BBC earlier this year, deliberately used a pejorative racial term to refer to an Asian man on BBC2’s Top Gear, causing offense without justification and breaching broadcasting rules.
Media regulator Ofcom ruled on Monday that Clarkson’s comment, during a Top Gear Burma special aired in March, was offensive and in breach of generally accepted standards required of broadcasters.
Following a string of controversies about offensive remarks, Clarkson was put on final warning by the BBC in May, after unbroadcast Top Gear footage of him mumbling the N-word during the rhyme “Eeny, meeny, miny moe” was leaked.
However, the BBC indicated that it planned to take no further action over the Ofcom ruling on the Burma special, saying it had dealt with the matter and apologised at the time.
During this edition of Top Gear Clarkson and co-presenter Richard Hammond were filmed observing their handiwork in building a makeshift bridge across the river Kwai, on which an Asian man was seen walking towards them.
Clarkson said: “That is a proud moment ... but ... there is a slope on it.” Hammond said: “You are right ... [pointing] ... it is definitely higher on that side.”
Clarkson then narrated, over images of the bridge: “We decide to ignore the slope and move onto the opening ceremony.”
