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A presenter's remarks about Mexicans on the BBC's popular "Top Gear" TV car show is causing an uproar not seen since Frito the Bandito and Speedy Gonzalez cartoons.
Richard Hammond uttered some anti-Mexican stereotypes after pulling up an internet photo of a new Mexican-made sports car.
“Why would you want a Mexican car? Because cars reflect national characteristics don’t they,” Hammond said. “Mexican cars are just going to be lazy, feckless, flatulent, overweight, leaning against a fence asleep looking at a cactus with a blanket with a hole in the middle on as a coat.”
Moderator Jeremy Clarkson then went on to insult Mexico's ambassador:“We won’t get any complaints about this because at the Mexican embassy the ambassador’s going to be sitting there with a remote control like this,” Clarkson said, slumping in the chair, snoring.
"Top Gear" is consistently a top BBC show because of its snarky comments.
In 2008, hundreds complained after Clarkson joked that truck drivers were murdering prostitutes.
The BBC reports that just last week, "Top Gear" was named most popular factual show at the National TV Awards.
FOR BBC RESPONSE And APOLOGY:
In a letter to Mexico's ambassador, the BBC said it was sorry if it had offended some people, but said jokes based on national stereotyping were part of British national humor.
It said the comments may have been "rude" and "mischievous," but there was no "vindictiveness" behind them.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12361790
