# Jeremy Clarkson is a pig

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeremy-clarkson-is-a-pig/976814>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [December 19, 2022, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeremy-clarkson-is-a-pig/976814 "2022-12-19T22:53:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeremy-clarkson-is-a-pig/976814/41 "2022-12-20T14:26:44Z")

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> [@Charlie\_Tan](#):
>
> Maybe even more in those teeny tiny countries where they still wield some actual power: Monaco, San Marino, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein.

The Grand Duke in Luxembourg does not have any meaningful political authority. He used to have the power to rubber-stamp laws after they were passed by the country’s legislature, but **[back in 2008 Grand Duke Henri used this power to obstruct a euthanasia law to which he objected, and this last remaining power was removed.](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-luxembourg-duke-idUSTRE4B182220081202)** He and the Luxembourg royal family are now entirely figureheads in terms of the actual functioning of government and state administration.

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**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeremy-clarkson-is-a-pig/976814/42 "2022-12-20T15:41:27Z")

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> [@DCnDC](#):
>
> The appeal of Top Gear continues to elude me.

The appeal is very simple. What if you carried through on every stupid thought you had without considering the consequences? That’s Clarkson’s _only_ appeal so he _has_ to continue to behave like that in public if he wants to keep anybody’s attention.

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**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeremy-clarkson-is-a-pig/976814/43 "2022-12-20T15:51:30Z")

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I’ve always seen him as the old duffer in the pub who’s had a few too many. He struck me like that even when he’s sober.

If you do see that type in a pub, you try not to walk past his table, because he and his fellow pensioners are spouting sexist, racist “jokes” and tasteless comments on celebrities.

But even those guys don’t stand in the square and yell those horrible things at the public.

.

eta: The fact that he made those horrid comments in public (to the press, yet!) makes any contrition laughable. And unbelievable.

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**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeremy-clarkson-is-a-pig/976814/44 "2022-12-20T15:58:25Z")

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> [@Dead\_Cat](#):
>
> I can’t say for sure, but I highly doubt that was Jeremy Clarkson - he was busy doing shows in the UK for the BBC at that time and wasn’t much known outside of that.

I can’t find a listing of ‘street reporters’ at WNEW back then. I know that he wasn’t a reporter for Bill Boggs. The person I’m thinking of was on the street during the morning show. But he worked there during the same time that the Bill Boggs show ran on that station. The person I’m thinking of really was 6’5 (and of course had a camera crew of thugs behind him), Had a loud British accent, and he’d pound on people’s doors. The crew would film if the door opened. One conversation I remember:

“Is that your car? Do you know you’re taking up half of your neighbor’s parking space? Who taught you how to drive? Do you you even have a license?”

The abuse (and the huge reporter and the gang of camera thugs behind him) would catch the person at the door by surprise. The film that the station showed always showed that reporter intimidating the person. I think there were complaints though, so eventually the interactions would soften and “dinner for two” coupons at nice restaurants were handed out. I honestly thought that the reporter was Jeremy Clarkson, but if it wasn’t it was someone who looked a great deal like him.

It might be that the bit was only done for one summer.

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**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeremy-clarkson-is-a-pig/976814/45 "2022-12-20T16:08:50Z")

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Gordon Elliott, perhaps?

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**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeremy-clarkson-is-a-pig/976814/46 "2022-12-20T16:13:15Z")

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> [@Charlie\_Tan](#):
>
> Maybe even more in those teeny tiny countries where they still wield some actual power: Monaco, San Marino, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein.

San Marino, famously, claims to be the oldest constitutional republic in the world; they’ve been electing their Captains Regent since the 13th century. No royalty, with or without power.

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**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeremy-clarkson-is-a-pig/976814/47 "2022-12-20T16:15:25Z")

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> [@Dead\_Cat](#):
>
> I can’t say for sure, but I highly doubt that was Jeremy Clarkson - he was busy doing shows in the UK for the BBC at that time and wasn’t much known outside of that.

If his Wikipedia article is accurate, it looks like his real break into TV was when he was selected to be a presenter for _Top Gear_ in 1988 (at which point, he was 28 years old); prior to that, he was mostly a print journalist, specializing in car reviews, for various British newspapers and publications.

No mention of working in radio or TV in the U.S. at that point, so i agree, whoever it was that @Mundane_Super_Hero saw back then, it seems unlikely that it was Clarkson.

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**Author:** ![nicky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f0a364/32.png) [@nicky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nicky)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeremy-clarkson-is-a-pig/976814/48 "2022-12-20T18:03:20Z")

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The worst thing about Clarkson is he is not all bad and could use his powerz for good.

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**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeremy-clarkson-is-a-pig/976814/49 "2022-12-20T18:11:56Z")

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I was a huge Top Gear fan back in the day. I couldn’t wait for Monday nights to see Hammond, Clarkson, and May. Even back then Clarkson was a prick. I don’t much care for Meghan or Harry, but to write about “dreaming of the day she is made to parade…while the crowds…throw lumps of excrement at her” is inexcusable. (this is from directly from his article). He’s a pig and all his “apologies” won’t make up for the fact that he is a pig. But that’s an insult to pigs.

He’s not sorry. He’s never sorry. I hope he never works again.

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**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeremy-clarkson-is-a-pig/976814/50 "2022-12-20T18:21:25Z")

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I can’t stand her, either. I think she is a gold digging fake and liar, but I’ll stop at that.

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**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeremy-clarkson-is-a-pig/976814/51 "2022-12-20T18:35:22Z")

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Too bad you didn’t stop before you chose to add this to a thread about how awful someone of the same mindset is. Makes you look like a hating attention seeker.

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**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeremy-clarkson-is-a-pig/976814/52 "2022-12-20T18:49:33Z")

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The fact that he could put Meghan Markle and Nicola Sturgeon in the same sentence as an actual serial killer is shocking. And that he could also proudly declare his “hatred” of them–two people who haven’t harmed him and haven’t done anything that I can tell are worthy of hatred, really is reprehensible. (I should say “repugnant,” because that was an answer in the pub quiz I played in last night.)

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**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeremy-clarkson-is-a-pig/976814/53 "2022-12-20T18:54:43Z")

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> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#):
>
> I read somewhere that the British office that deals with media complaints got more than 6000 complaints on Clarkson’s comments. They normally get about 11,000 a year from all sources.

Over 17000 now.

> [@Riemann](#):
>
> What is completely true, however, is that he met Kate Moss at a party early in his career as a BBC TV presenter.  
> Kate: “Who are you?”  
> Jeremy: “I do Top Gear.”  
> Kate: “Do you offer a bulk discount?”

Brilliant !

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**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeremy-clarkson-is-a-pig/976814/54 "2022-12-20T19:36:53Z")

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> [@pjd](#):
>
> > [@Riemann](#):
> >
> > What is completely true, however, is that he met Kate Moss at a party early in his career as a BBC TV presenter.  
> > Kate: “Who are you?”  
> > Jeremy: “I do Top Gear.”  
> > Kate: “Do you offer a bulk discount?”
> 
> Brilliant !

Oh, so it _was_ a joke. Do you suppose you could explain it to me? Only, I have an important meeting later, and I don’t want to start laughing in the middle of it.

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**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeremy-clarkson-is-a-pig/976814/55 "2022-12-20T19:39:11Z")

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> [@kaylasdad99](#):
>
> Oh, so it _was_ a joke. Do you suppose you could explain it to me?

She thinks “Top Gear” is a description of the goods Jeremy Clarkson sells.

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**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeremy-clarkson-is-a-pig/976814/56 "2022-12-20T19:39:20Z")

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I don’t know if it was a joke or not, either way it’s funny !  
Top gear can also mean good quality drugs.  
Kate Moss is known for her fondness for the white stuff.

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**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeremy-clarkson-is-a-pig/976814/57 "2022-12-20T19:42:19Z")

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> [@pjd](#):
>
> Top gear can also mean good quality drugs.

Oh, I see.

I think.

What does it mean when it _doesn’t_ mean good quality drugs?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeremy-clarkson-is-a-pig/976814/58 "2022-12-20T19:43:02Z")

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It’s the name of the tv program he presented.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeremy-clarkson-is-a-pig/976814/59 "2022-12-20T19:44:35Z")

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Huh. Well, if a TV show can be called _My Mother the Car_, I suppose anything goes.

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**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeremy-clarkson-is-a-pig/976814/60 "2022-12-20T19:48:28Z")

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It’s a motoring/cars based show. I doubt whoever chose the name knew of the  
drug reference. [See here.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gear_(1977_TV_series))

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