By Gabriel Princewill-
Jeremy Clarkson’s undignified attack on Meghan Markle and Oprah Winfrey last week has been deemed racist and sexist by critics, after a week of discussion.
Clarkson is under particular scrutiny, given his past records of racism and a recent article the television presenter wrote in the Times Newspaper about people who can’t speak English in the UK. Clarkson admitted the comments he made was edited to remove the comments he made- the precise details which are not yet known.
However, the admission revived an issue about which a big deal is being made, the former Top Gear host mocked the Duchess of Sussex on his Saturday night show ” It’s Clarkson on TV, and joked that Piers Morgan ‘had a point-referring to the former GMB host’s categorical dismissal of Meghan Markle’s interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Clarkson satirically described the Duchess Of Sussex as ‘breaking wind. Assisted by canned laughter, the show ran a clip of Meghan discussing a time after her wedding to Prince Harry and Oprah responding.
“Sorry can we just hear that again because it really does sound like Piers Morgan had a point, her pants really were on fire,” Jeremy continued.
There was more canned laughter as he added: “Now I’ve had a note here from the legal department at ITV. They want it to be made plain that that was not a fart, I have no idea how they know that.
“But they want me to make it clear that the fart noise probably came out of Oprah’s mouth.”
Critics have lambasted Clarkson’s audacity to mock two women of colour so openly.
Social worker and critic Deon Laverhan told The Eye Of Media.Com: ”I think Jeremy Clarkson is rally treading a fine line with his racists and discriminatory comments.
This man’s history of racism is clear, and he is still out here freely showing those racist tendencies we already know he has, and the media and the government are watching silently. It’s a good thing this publication is not being silent.
Clarkson’s mockery of Meghan Markle and his endorsement of Morgan’s action is seen as tantamoun tto undermining the multiple complaints lodged against Piers Morgan by GMB viewers, which saw the former television presenter step down from his highly paid job early in March.
Former Good Morning Britain host, Piers Morgan, quit the breakfast show following his comments about Meghan last month, which dismissed her entire account, including those of mental health issues and complaints of racism in the palace.
A row erupted when Piers said he “didn’t believe” her claims in her tell-all interview that she had suicidal thoughts while pregnant with son Archie,
Over 57,000 people complained to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom over Morgan’s comments, making it the most complained about TV moment ever.
Clarkson who has expressed support for the axed television presenter in the papers, was more daring when he decided to reference the famous interview which was watched by more than 11 million people in the UK.
Minutes into his new show Jeremy said: “There was a moment where Meghan Markle seemed to – how can I put this politely – break wind.”
The presenter was assisted by canned laughter, the show ran a clip of Meghan discussing a time after her wedding to Prince Harry and Oprah responding.
“Sorry can we just hear that again because it really does sound like Piers Morgan had a point, her pants really were on fire,” Jeremy continued.
There was more canned laughter as he added: “Now I’ve had a note here from the legal department at ITV. They want it to be made plain that that was not a fart, I have no idea how they know that.
“But they want me to make it clear that the fart noise probably came out of Oprah’s mouth.”
His demeaning remarks about Oprah Winfrey- a black television icon- has been branded racist.
And Piers Morgan added insult to injury when he called for the royals to shun Oprah Winfrey, f
Insulted: Oprah Winfrey
Analyst Hortensia Daniels said: ”The fact this man who has a history of clear racism could speak about Oprah Winfrey in such a derogatory manner is both racist and sexist.
‘That Jeremy Clarkson can demean a renowned woman who is black, just for conducting an interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle-another black woman- shows how alive institutional racism remains in Britain.
‘Clarkson then boldly comes out and admits that an article he wrote in the Times about people who can’t speak English was edited to remove his exact statement.
‘It tells us the editor of the Times considered his comments inappropriate, yet he has the gall to come out and express that his discriminatory attitude was left out of the article in question. In fact the Times editor should be credited for his sound judgement.
Clarkson’s Documented History Of Racism
Clarkson’s history with racism on television is well documented , making it unsurprising that critics see Clarkson’s survival and continuous thrive in the British media is considered evidence of institutional racism in Britain.
In 2014, Jeremy Clarkson’s racism, was exposed by The Mirror , after an edited clip of him reciting the nursery rhyme Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe, began by saying the letter “n”.
Clarkson at the time released a video statement “begging forgiveness” for the error. This time, he admitted he had appeared to “mumble” the offensive word despite attempting not to.
“I was mortified by this, horrified. It was a word I loathe.”
“I did everything in my power to ensure that that word did not get in the programme that was transmitted.”
Then in 2014, he was accused of calling producer Oisin Tymon a lazy Irish cxxx”, before physically attacking the producer.
However, it is important to identify the multiple reasons besides racism that Clarkson remains in the media.
Business considerations often contributes to an oversight of racist attitudes in the media, at best, meaning that racism has somewhat been condoned in the British media, for pecuniary benefits.
A logical conclusion can therefore be that racism is not treated seriously enough in the British media, though dissenters of this view would point to the fact he was sacked as evidence racism is taken seriously.
How this is reconciled with the fact Clarkson is still earning a living in the media, is a value judgement.
Given, Clarkson’s racist past, the veteran journalist is the last person who should be passing comment or ridicule on anybody who has complained of mental health problems, talk less of those that involve complaints of racism.
Eyes will continue to be on Jeremy Clarkson and his bosses, as his every word from henceforth is kept under the microscope, potentially leading to wider agitation in the future.