Jeremy Clarkson begs for forgiveness in video after race row

 
Video statement: Jeremy Clarkson begs for forgiveness in video tweeted to fans (Picture: TwitPic)
Alexandra Rucki3 May 2014

Jeremy Clarkson has released a video begging for forgiveness after appearing to use the n-word during filming for his BBC show Top Gear.

In a video statement posted to his 3.2 million Twitter followers on Thursday evening, the TV presenter said he tried to obscure the word “n****r” while reciting a version of the nursery rhyme Eeny, meeny, miny, moe on camera.

Earlier today he outright denied the claim, which was originally made by The Daily Mirror newspaper, and said: “I did not use the n word. Never use it. The Mirror has gone way too far this time.”

But footage of the incident was later posted on The Daily Mirror website where Clarkson apparently mumbles the n-word.

In the video statement Clarkson said he mumbled the word in two takes and replaced it with teacher in the third, as he was well aware of the racist conations.

After viewing the footage he realised you could hear the offensive term and wrote a note to the production office to avoid using the version with the mumbled word.

His statement said: "Now when I viewed this footage, several weeks later, I realised that in one of the mumbled versions, if you listen very carefully with the sound turned right up, it did appear that I'd actually used the word I was trying to obscure.

"I was mortified by this, horrified, it is a word I loath. And I did everything in my power to make sure that that version did not appear in the programme that was transmitted.

"In fact, I have here the note I sent at the time to the production office. "And it says, 'I didn't use the n-word here but I've just listened through my headphones and it sounds like I did. Is there another take that we could use?'

"Please be assured I did everything in my power to not use that word. And as I'm sitting here begging your forgiveness for that fact that obviously my efforts weren't quite good enough.”

A statement released by the BBC said: “Jeremy Clarkson has set out the background to this regrettable episode.

“We have made it absolutely clear to him, the standards the BBC expects on air and off. We have left him in no doubt about how seriously we view this.”

Care free: Jeremy Clarkson with Jigsaw CEO Peter Ruis at the launch of concept store the Duke Street Emporium in London last night (Picture: Dave Benett)

Downing Street said David Cameron, a friend of Clarkson's, believed the BBC needed to launch an investigation.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "Any usage of that word would be quite wrong.

"If there are these reports and allegations, I am sure that is something the BBC would look at."

Asked if he could imagine Mr Cameron using such language, the spokesman replied: "Certainly not."

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