India asks BBC to apologize for ‘offensive’ comments on Top Gear

[A1Kaid]

Best episode was when they went to the US South.

 

[Dr. NooB NinjA]

It was just a show.. Move on people..!!

 

[harpoon]

It was just a show.. Move on people..!!

There was a thread about this show before in this forum and 99% of Indians said that its not something of an issue..but some sensationalist media in India think otherwise forcing GoI to ask for apology.

 

[Windjammer]

BBC says it has nothing to apologise for "offensive" India show


The BBC on Wednesday said it had nothing to apologise for its controversial special India edition of Top Gear that many found offensive and was described by the Indian High Commission in a formal protest as being "replete with cheap jibes, tasteless humour and lacked the cultural sensitivity that we expect from the BBC".

In a statement, the BBC said the programme, presented by the controversy-prone Jeremy Clarkson who has been previously accused of racism by the Chinese and Mexicans, among others, was "filled with incidents but none of them were an insult to the Indian people or the culture of the country".

"We genuinely loved our time in India and if there were any jokes to be had they were, as ever, reflected back on the presenters rather than the Indian people," it said.

A BBC spokesperson clarified to The Hindu that the statement put up on its complaints website was "not a response to the Indian High Commission" but to viewers who had commented on the programme.

Indian authorities who had demanded an apology were not satisfied but did not intend to pursue the issue further in view of India’s "long-term relations" with the broadcaster.

The BBC said the programme showed "the charm, the beauty, the wealth, the poverty and the idiosyncrasies of India but there's a vast difference between showing a country, warts and all, and insulting it".

"It's simply not the case that we displayed a hostile or superior attitude to our hosts and that's very clear from the way the presenters can be seen to interact with them along the way," it added.

Indian High Commission had protested that the programme was in breach of the original format the BBC had submitted while seeking permission to film it in India. Contrary to the proposed outline, it appeared to "mock" Indian culture, the High Commission and many viewers complained.

Prime Minister David Cameron said he "did not like the programme at all" and his office denied that Mr. Clarkson, a personal friend of Mr. Cameron’s, had Prime Minister’s backing as the programme misleadingly sought to suggest.

It opens with a shot of Number 10 Downing Street with Mr. Cameron waving to the Top Gear team as they left for India suggesting that it had his blessings.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: "The BBC are able to film in Downing Street as are other broadcast companies. They were in the street and he was leaving for an event. The Government is not responsible for editorial decisions made by the BBC or any media organisation."

The scenes to which viewers objected included one where Mr. Clarkson shows off a car with a lavatory fitted on its roof and says: "This is perfect for India…"

Top Gear is a popular motoring programme watched by millions of viewers.

The Hindu : News / International : BBC says it has nothing to apologise for "offensive" India show

 

[boris]

This is horrible,Has the Indian Govt. started to think itself as god even god is abused by people.He makes fun of everyone.Tomorrow they'll say Indian Cuisine is not for the weak hearted then what you want an apology for that too.

Indians are amazing at criticizing at anything but when they are criticized they want an apology pronto.

 

[PERSIAN GOD KING]

When did they do that? from what I remember the flag was on Hammond's car, the toilet was on Clarkson's car (which didn't have a flag)

No, he did, he put the design of the flag on his bonnet, but instead of the wheel thingy he put a toilet.

 

[Dalai Lama]

I couldn't care less. These guys thrive in controversial situations like this. They are all "journalists" after all. GoI should just let it go...

 

[Irfan Baloch]

Just give one news that, EFT can loss the MMRCA competition..And then see, even Camroon will have to come up to apologise for that which he denied before..
Thats our hardpower...

oh yea that threat will make even Jeremy Clarkson come and apologise NOT

last time when he said that one of the habits of lorry drivers was to run over hookers there was a big outcry over it and feminists demanded an apology

he did apologise by saying that in the last program I made a comment that caused a lot of uproar and I am sorry for that and then he said that he would like to take the comment back about some car, to which the whole audience burst into a laughter.

Jeremy’s appeal is in his politically incorrect comments and views and that’s what makes his motoring show different but most viewed. By demanding an apology I think you guys have given him more ammo to use in his future programs whenever there is an Indian reference.

 

[GURU DUTT]

oh yea that threat will make even Jeremy Clarkson come and apologise NOT

last time when he said that one of the habits of lorry drivers was to run over hookers there was a big outcry over it and feminists demanded an apology

he did apologise by saying that in the last program I made a comment that caused a lot of uproar and I am sorry for that and then he said that he would like to take the comment back about some car, to which the whole audience burst into a laughter.

Jeremy’s appeal is in his politically incorrect comments and views and that’s what makes his motoring show different but most viewed. By demanding an apology I think you guys have given him more ammo to use in his future programs whenever there is an Indian reference.

so true this jermy JACK *** is a gone case , actually the thing is every entertainer has some time when whatever he does becomes a hit , he had that some 9-10 years back , now his time,s over but to keep the show alive the producers keep on reapting it & JJ/JCS thinks people like this morone????????

 

[saiyan0321]

so true this jermy JACK *** is a gone case , actually the thing is every entertainer has some time when whatever he does becomes a hit , he had that some 9-10 years back , now his time,s over but to keep the show alive the producers keep on reapting it & JJ/JCS thinks people like this morone????????

screw him chill out and ignore this idiot people rant alot to get ratings its the easiest way to get people,s attention make fun of something

 

[Pakchina]

Clarkson is just reporting the Indian reality. The Indians are living in a virtual world portrayed by Bollywood films and cricket. This virtual world has been made for the billions of poor and slumdogs to dream that they are living in a super rich country with beautiful and whitening people all around so that they do not protest against their inhuman living conditions. But this is not the reality. The reality is slum, darkness and dirtiness. India is the dirtiest country in the World with crumbling infrastructure, crowded trains with rats and human defeacation, human wastes all around etc. So why India is so upset when the reality is being reported. This reality has been again thrown to the world during the shameful Delhi Commonwealth Games. When a tourist travels to India, he should be warned about the reality, that what he sees in Bollywood films do not exist. This tourist must be vaccinated against all the 18 and 19th centuries disease like polio, malaria, hepatitis, leprosy, smallpox, cholera etc, he must be warned not to drink tape water which is contaminated by faecal wastes and infested with all sorts of bacteria which lead to gastroenteristis, he must be warned not to eat the Indian food as the high level of spices lead to throat soaring and Delhi Belly. During the shameful Delhi Commonwealth Games athletes had been contaminated by diseases due to contaminated food and the contaminated water of the swimming pool. The delhi Belly is well known by the backpackers. India must not hide the reality and being the new ally of the US war criminals and Israel does not mean that India is now a developed country where everything is beautiful.

 

[forumstalker]

I wonder how many of those complaining about this also laughed when Clarkson and co. also made 'remarks' about the southern US, Mexico, and the English West Midlands? :p

 

[BelligerentPacifist]

This series, they really concentrated mocking Mexico and the Mexico, the India one was such a short and indirect sling.

 

[EndoClock]

This is horrible,Has the Indian Govt. started to think itself as god even god is abused by people.He makes fun of everyone.Tomorrow they'll say Indian Cuisine is not for the weak hearted then what you want an apology for that too.

Indians are amazing at criticizing at anything but when they are criticized they want an apology pronto.

Indians have over sensitive ego who can't handle any negative feedback. It just makes them look foolish and humorless when they demand an apology from a joker.

 

[Birbal]

Jeremy Clarkson is a jingoistic jerk. He ridicules everything that isn't English (or at least British).

That said, this toilet joke is over the top even by Top Gear standards. Far too offensive and should never have been broadcast.