Mexican takes legal action against Top Gear after Hammond calls her nation 'lazy, feckless and flatulent'
A Mexican has instructed lawyers to bring a test case against Top Gear after her countrymen were branded 'lazy, feckless and flatulent' on the hit show.
Iris de la Torre, a jewellery design student in London, is bringing the claim under a new equality law. Her lawyers claim it could cost the BBC £1million in damages.
They have demanded the hit BBC1 motoring show is taken off the air and an investigation made into the comments.
The lawyers, Equal Justice, have previously taken action against Channel 4 over comments about Indian actor Shilpa Shetty, made on Celebrity Big Brother.
MPs have also now demanded that the BBC apologises over the 'ignorant, derogatory and racist remarks'.
In a Commons motion, a cross-party group of six MPs said the comments were 'unacceptable and untimely'.
Ambassador Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza has called for the presenters to make a public apology for stirring 'bigoted feelings against the Mexican people'
They said: 'This level of ignorance is far below anything expected from anyone in the public eye and illustrates a serious lack of judgment by the programme-makers.'
The group wants the BBC to apologise as a 'matter of urgency' before Nick Clegg visits Mexico this month in case the row upsets diplomatic relations.
On Sunday night's show, Richard Hammond was discussing a Mexican sports car and suggested that vehicles reflect the national characteristics of the country they are from.
He added: 'Mexican cars are just going to be lazy, feckless, flatulent, leaning against a fence asleep looking at a cactus with a blanket with a hole in the middle on as a coat.’
He also referred to Mexican food as 'refried sick' while fellow presenter James May said it was 'like sick with cheese on it'.
Host Jeremy Clarkson then claimed the ambassador to the UK wouldn't complain because he would be snoring in front of the television at his embassy.
But the ambassador Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza did make a formal complaint to the BBC and called on the presenters to make a public apology for stirring 'bigoted feelings against the Mexican people'.
The legal complaint on behalf of Miss de la Torre claims the comments were unlawful and broke rules banning discrimination of public bodies, according to the Guardian.
She told the paper: 'I was shocked at what the BBC allowed to be broadcast. I have never had a bad experience in the UK due to my nationality. I do not understand how such ignorant people hold such high-profile jobs.'
Equal Justice have written to the BBC in what could be the first step to bringing a case. The next step would be to apply to a county court.
If it goes to court, the case could be the first to be brought under the Equality Act which came into force last year.
The law bans anyone providing a 'service to the public' from doing anything that constitutes discrimination.
Lawrence Davies from Equal Justice told the Guardian: 'These remarks were probably calculated and deliberate to fuel anger and hence boost ratings.
'The presenters apparently feel that they are fighting a battle against political correctness. However, they are not permitted to use unlawful means to do so and broadcast their racist thoughts. A broadcast is a service and it is unlawful to product racist services.'
The BBC said it had not yet received the complaint and that it would be handled through the appropriate channels.
This is not the first time Top Gear, with its blend of motoring news, schoolboy humour and audacious stunts, has got into trouble.
In 2008 the show was rapped by the BBC Trust for showing Clarkson and May sipping gin and tonic at the wheel during a stunt.
Only last month Clarkson criticised censorship on television.
He said backstage at the National Television Awards that the recent Sky Sports sexism row raised the danger of people being punished for 'heresy by thought'.
He said: 'We've arrived at a stage where you actually can be busted for heresy by thought, which is a terrifying place to live.
'While we try very hard on Top Gear not to be sexist, if a man wants to think that, that's fine. You should be allowed to think what you think.'
The BBC has received more than 70 complaints about Sunday night’s episode of Top Gear.
A spokesman for the corporation said: 'We have received a letter from the Mexican ambassador and shall respond to him directly.'
Real talk, I'd sue them for a million pounds
Methodis is trying to get himself banned
In a letter to Mexico's ambassador in London, the BBC said it was sorry if it had offended some people, but said jokes based on national stereotyping were part of British national humour.
In a statement, the BBC said the comments may have been "rude" and "mischievous," but there was no "vindictiveness" behind them.
"Our own comedians make jokes about the British being terrible cooks and terrible romantics, and we in turn make jokes about the Italians being disorganised and over dramatic, the French being arrogant and the Germans being over-organised," the BBC said.
It added that stereotype-based comedy was allowed within BBC guidelines in programmes where the audience knew they could expect it, as was the case with Top Gear.
"Whilst it may appear offensive to those who have not watched the programme or who are unfamiliar with its humour, the executive producer has made it clear to the ambassador that that was absolutely not the show's intention," the BBC added.
Where's the Australian rage over the rest of the episode?
Question is, were they making fun of Mexicans or were they making fun of stereotypes? I think the latter. A big part of the appeal of top gear is the irreverent humor - these guys are always making fun of someone or other, and yes, it can get a bit cringeworthy at times but that's part of the package.
Do you UKers really refer to puke as "sick"? :rofl
Question is, were they making fun of Mexicans or were they making fun of stereotypes? I think the latter. A big part of the appeal of top gear is the irreverent humor - these guys are always making fun of someone or other, and yes, it can get a bit cringeworthy at times but that's part of the package.
what? they were using stereotypes - familiar, old-ass stereotypes - to make fun of mexicans. nothing particularly clever, just old-fashion racism that's supposed to be funny cuz "OMG UR NOT SUPPOSED 2 SAY THAT!!!"
They were playing up to their personae as goofy, irreverent old men. I don't believe for a second these guys are racist private life. As I said, this is the general tone of the program. However will some viewers take what is supposed to be - and I hate to use this word - ironic, old man banter and justify their own racism? It's inevitable. And a sad fact of life. But should that mean that scriptwriters adjust their output? That's. A different argument entirely.
well, hopefully they won't make a t-shirt about it and start getting into twitter wars, or they could be in real trouble
"Mexico doesn't have an Olympic team... because anyone who can run, jump or swim is already across the border."
and what's the deal with airline food?who are these people?
Clarkson's "apology" from his column in the Sun:Quote"Mexico doesn't have an Olympic team... because anyone who can run, jump or swim is already across the border."
It's "Oh say can you see" not "Jose can you see".
It's "Oh say can you see" not "Jose can you see".
Let's get all the Mexicans of the Bore together and sue Methodis. We could probably win like $15.
Yea. They aired the US East Coast trip second tonight, which was the season premiere. The first episode they aired tonight originally aired AFTER the Middle East special, thus the reference to them getting in trouble for the baby Stig in the manger.
I'll watch Sunday's episode tomorrow night. Next Sunday is Simon Pegg :rock
Has anyone watched Top Gera US? how is it
Do they even do reviews, because I would not trust them.
Do they even do reviews, because I would not trust them.
Yeah, they reviewed a few cars during the first season. I figured they wouldn't tell it like it is due to advertisers sponsoring the show, but they were honest with their thoughts on the new Honda CRZ.