"Top Gear" host ASSAULTS producer with big fat meat hand

[yllus]

It's not like he is just the guy who works in the sales office around the corner from your cubicle. I don't think you can hold him to the same workplace standards that you would hold everyone else to.

Why the hell can't we? The world highly values entertainers, but he's not the king of England (at least technically he isn't; they may make the same amount of money) who gets to smack around mere vassals if he feels like it.

How is it going to help anyone to just fire him? Everyone who works there loses their job, the world loses a fantastic show, and people feel sorry for Jeremy Clarkson. What lesson does it teach?

What lesson does not firing him teach? That if you have enough stage presence or if you bring in loads of cash and jobs, you get to do whatever you want?

Hell, union employees don't get fired for actually getting in a fist fight at work. They get sent for anger management or some type of training to address the root issue. I personally think the root issue is that Jeremy Clarkson is who he is and that BBC encourages him to be himself and that results in some undesirable behavior. It's like having a prize pig that makes you oodles of money and then complaining about the pig crap on the carpet.

I don't especially care of politicians or entertainers are paragons of virtue, but I have to think we need higher standards than this. He should be fired and publicly shamed. I'll miss the show, but good lord people, we're better than this.

 

[Subyman]

Why the hell can't we? The world highly values entertainers, but he's not the king of England (at least technically he isn't; they may make the same amount of money) who gets to smack around mere vassals if he feels like it.



What lesson does not firing him teach? That if you have enough stage presence or if you bring in loads of cash and jobs, you get to do whatever you want?



I don't especially care of politicians or entertainers are paragons of virtue, but I have to think we need higher standards than this. He should be fired and publicly shamed. I'll miss the show, but good lord people, we're better than this.

What is it with people bringing out the pitchforks when someone makes a mistake? He didn't murder anyone. He didn't sleep with children. He didn't rape a lady. He got into a scuffle with another dude. Big deal!

He's the host of a raunchy car show, no one is worshiping at the altar of Jeremy Clarkson. He's not the pillar of humanity to which people calibrate their moral compass. He's a man that has made millions being a funny motorhead. Nothing more.

 

[werepossum]

It is possible for me get my hands on sliced bread though...
Just saying...

Good point. The list of things I can put in my mouth is sadly limited.

I agree there has to be standards for the talent. Discipline in all organizations starts at the very top. But the reality of the world is a rare few individuals are above standards. Clarkson is one such individual. He's like the British Charlie Sheen (minus the coke & pornstars, I think?).

I'm not sitting here arguing that he shouldn't be suspended and the show return for my entertainment. Whatever happens, happens.

But knowing Moonbeam he's probably going to turn around and say "See! I was actually commenting on the hypocrisy of defects wanting Obama impeached!" And it's like, why can't you just be normal for a day?

lol

Why the hell can't we? The world highly values entertainers, but he's not the king of England (at least technically he isn't; they may make the same amount of money) who gets to smack around mere vassals if he feels like it.

What lesson does not firing him teach? That if you have enough stage presence or if you bring in loads of cash and jobs, you get to do whatever you want?

I don't especially care of politicians or entertainers are paragons of virtue, but I have to think we need higher standards than this. He should be fired and publicly shamed. I'll miss the show, but good lord people, we're better than this.

Look at American sportsmen or entertainers; Clarkson's behavior is quite mild compared to this side of the pond. We just had a football player who knocked his girlfriend out cold on camera and the argument on his punishment was exactly how many games he should be forced to sit out. The main effect was the league sanctioning his behavior made a bunch of commercials lecturing the rest of us to not engage in their own behavior. Compared to that, smacking a producer upside the head for failing to do his job doesn't even register. Hell, I've done that myself, and had it done to me. Guys are physical, and hopefully don't whine about such things. It isn't an assault, it's a friggin' joke, just a physical way of saying "dumbass".

 

[slayernine]

Why the hell can't we? The world highly values entertainers, but he's not the king of England (at least technically he isn't; they may make the same amount of money) who gets to smack around mere vassals if he feels like it.



What lesson does not firing him teach? That if you have enough stage presence or if you bring in loads of cash and jobs, you get to do whatever you want?



I don't especially care of politicians or entertainers are paragons of virtue, but I have to think we need higher standards than this. He should be fired and publicly shamed. I'll miss the show, but good lord people, we're better than this.

I stick to what I said earlier, they paid him to be an arrogant ape of a man, and that's what he played on camera and off. It's not about the money. Firing people don't fix them or their problems. It's just spiteful to talk like that.

Also there has been new insights into the situation which suggest there was drinking involved, possibly on both sides of the argument. So you can go on playing the role of executioner but there is always more to the story than we know.

 

[moonbogg]

Told ya. His violent ass is GONE!

 

[slayernine]

Told ya. His violent ass is GONE!

So you are happy about it? Do you hate Top Gear? How is this a good thing?

Oison Tymon should have just hit him back and been done with it. Prissy little shit had to go and ruin a good tv show.

 

[Subyman]

So you are happy about it? Do you hate Top Gear? How is this a good thing?

Oison Tymon should have just hit him back and been done with it. Prissy little shit had to go and ruin a good tv show.

Yeah, I agree. Seems like the only people happy about this are people that never watch the show. Just another "fall from grace" story in their news feed to slobber over. I'll definitely miss the show. Wish the incident never happened.

 

[moonbogg]

It was a great show and a real shame that it had to end this way, but moral principles come first when at all possible, and this time it was possible. You don't hit people. Do you understand me? This asshole hit someone. He needs a time out.

 

[brycejones]

Prissy little shit had to go and ruin a good tv show.

Blame the victim? Real classy, and Clarkson is the one who reported the incident.

 

[slayernine]

It was a great show and a real shame that it had to end this way, but moral principles come first when at all possible, and this time it was possible. You don't hit people. Do you understand me? This asshole hit someone. He needs a time out.

A timeout, sure. Firing him, not so much. Make him do a series if public service announcements condoning violence? Some form of punishment, training etc. This result just feels shitty.

 

[brycejones]

A timeout, sure. Firing him, not so much. Make him do a series if public service announcements condoning violence? Some form of punishment, training etc. This result just feels shitty.

You slug someone in your workplace what would happen to you?

I know where I work regardless of who are your ass is out the door, do not pass go, do not collect $200.

 

[slayernine]

Blame the victim? Real classy, and Clarkson is the one who reported the incident.

Just because someone was victimized doesn't make them perfect and blameless. If he was better at handling difficult actors/presenters like Jeremy he could have deescalated the situation.

But really, why can't he take a hit to the face for the sake of something bigger than him.

 

[brycejones]

Just because someone was victimized doesn't make them perfect and blameless. If he was better at handling difficult actors/presenters like Jeremy he could have deescalated the situation.

But really, why can't he take a hit to the face for the sake of something bigger than him.

Quoting this purely for the insanity factor.

 

[slayernine]

You slug someone in your workplace what would happen to you?

I know where I work regardless of who are your ass is out the door, do not pass go, do not collect $200.

Let me know when you become a presenter on the most watched factual program in the world.

 

[SlowSpyder]

I really like Top Gear. They made car reviews feel kind of epic, the Porsche 918 Spyder review and McLaren P1 review felt like I was watching a drama movie. They made the cars feel like they had character. But, I can understand why the BBC said enough is enough. All good things must come to an end.

The episodes where they come to Reno, NV and race on the salt flats and the episode where they got chased by some good ol' boys in the south are personal favorites.

 

[moonbogg]

A timeout, sure. Firing him, not so much. Make him do a series if public service announcements condoning violence? Some form of punishment, training etc. This result just feels shitty.

This is a time out. He is an adult. His time out needs to be different from that of a 4 year old, although his actions were that of a 4 year old. Famous or not. Rich or not. Liked by millions or not. You use violence, you LOSE. Everyone loses.

 

[brycejones]

Let me know when you become a presenter on the most watched factual program in the world.

I love Top Gear and think Clarkson is a funny man. Doesn't mean he should be allowed to slug people and still keep his job.

You're willing to excuse physical assault so your TV show isn't impacted get some perspective.

 

[StrangerGuy]

So, the BBC won't tolerate Clarkson slapping a producer, but had no problem ignoring pedophilia allegations against Jimmy Savile going back to the 1960's, and then decided to punish the journalists who exposed him after his death.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/08/bbc-whistleblowers-jimmy-savile

Or branding Islamic terrorists as just "Asians". I know two wrongs don't make a right but the PC-laden hypocrisy is just LOL.

 

[Subyman]

You slug someone in your workplace what would happen to you?

I know where I work regardless of who are your ass is out the door, do not pass go, do not collect $200.

I don't believe it was at the workplace. It was in a hotel if I remember correctly.

I think there were ways to save the show without firing him. If the producer was cool with it then they could do a person to person public apology, a fine, and perhaps some community service. People make mistakes. Jeremy was drunk and irate.

It is hard, because if some random accountant punched out their coworker then it is obvious they should be fired. This is strange though because of the dynamics of the show and the field they are in. You see it a lot with actors. Remember the Christian Bale audio of him ripping into some guy that walked across the set?

Anyway, I think if they producer was okay with letting him stay and accepted an apology then that would have been okay by me. Kind of shows two men can do something stupid, but still be okay with each other at the end of the day.