Trepanated - Clarkson is not racist. I see him as a comedian as well as a car reviewer. Comedians get a pass when it comes to making racists jokes but when it comes to him punching some guy I do agree that it's wrong and in no way support violence. However my problem with the BBC is that because of that incident I've heard they refuse to air episodes they have already made which is absurd if they want to fire the guy fine... he punched his boss it's a reasonable course of action but to even refuse to air the last episodes is unjustified.
Another thing I can't agree with you on as well is the thing about the death threats. Welcome to the internet there will always be haters and if your a public figure even if your a victim some people fans of whoever or trolls will hate on you. Sure it's wrong that he got death threats but that's like to be expected people in the public receive death threats regularly.
I disagree about the racism. Using the n word when you are talking about a black person
is racist. Using the word 'slope' to talk about Asians
is racist.
And letting people get away with that, or giving them a pass just because they are famous is not acceptable. Someone famous, someone in the public eye, someone who because of their position has a media presence - the status that their fame affords them means their behaviour influences wider society to some degree. And condoning the bad behaviour of those individuals sends out a completely unacceptable message to the people they influence.
As far as the latest incident where he attacked that producer, I agree that that could have been handled differently. In many workplaces it would have been handled internally. People fight in the workplace, it happens. And if both parties are happy to resolve the incident it between themselves, that's often the best way.
But even then, with that incident, Clarkson was totally in the wrong. It wasn't an argument between two people. It was a senior person bullying and attacking a junior person - presumably thinking he was entitled to treat the junior person however he wanted because he was the one in authority.
Where I think the BBC are in the wrong, is in not dealing with him properly for the previous incidents. They've put themselves in a position where their hand has now been forced and they have left themselves no choice. I don't think he should necessarily have been sacked for this latest fracas - although bullying in the workplace, if that's what he was guilty of, would quite likely result in dismissal (and rightfully so).
The death threats to the producer - he is
not a public figure. He received those threats as a direct result of Clarkson's actions and his subsequent behaviour. That's not on, it's not acceptable and Clarkson has never shown any contrition or remorse for what that producer went through. Entirely unacceptable in my view.
I do agree with you about pulling the rest of the series though - that's ridiculous. And again, I think the BBC have done that because they feel they now have to overcompensate for their past failings in properly dealing with Clarkson.
The BBC managed things badly in the past and they are continuing to handle things badly.
But that does not absolve Clarkson of his disgusting behaviour.
