Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Clarkson, Conservatives, and the Cult of Victimhood
It’s not easy being on the Right today. This is particularly true if you happen to be an affluent heterosexual white male. If you are unfortunate enough to be in that position, you are expected to spend most of your time checking your privilege and must be constantly vigilant lest you inadvertently commit a microaggression.
If, by some failure of the affirmative action system, you manage to slip past the bien pensant guardians of the culture and achieve mainstream celebrity status, your every word and deed will undoubtedly be subject to severe scrutiny. The slightest deviation from politically correct orthodoxy will result in mass public outrage and calls for your termination. Given such circumstances it is entirely understandable that many, if not most, conservative mainstream celebrities choose to toe the PC line and keep their views to themselves. Understandable, but disheartening nonetheless. To his credit, Jeremy Clarkson chose a different route.
For more than a decade, Clarkson has been the host of the wildly popular BBC motoring show “Top Gear.” Since taking over as the show’s chief impresario in 2002, Clarkson has transformed it from a little-watched Consumer Reports-ish snooze fest into an exciting and humorous mega hit with 300 million viewers worldwide. He managed to do so despite, or perhaps more accurately because, he is routinely profoundly un-PC. At one point or another Clarkson has skewered every sacred cow from vegetarianism to multiculturalism to electric cars, making himself one of the British Left’s most hated bogeymen. In recent years Clarkson has sparked controversy and calls for his sacking numerous times for an array of crimes against progressivism ranging from the use of racial epithets to taunting Argentina over the Falklands War. Despite the best efforts of the left-wing outrage industry, Jeremy Clarkson continued to prosper as the star of the BBC’s most popular show.
Alas, all good things must come to an end. Last week the BBC sacked Clarkson following an investigation into a “fracas” where Clarkson verbally and physically assaulted one of Top Gear’s junior producers. The Left’s reaction to Clarkson’s dismissal was both predictable and distasteful. Clarkson had long been a bête noire of the British Left and the fact that his termination had absolutely nothing to do with his politics didn’t prevent such publications as the Guardian and the New Statesman from covering the affair with a tone of jubilation. More surprising, and perhaps more distasteful, than the Left’s glee at Clarkson’s downfall was the reaction of many on the Right.
In the same way that the Left chose to ignore the actual circumstances of Clarkson’s firing in order to exult over the demise of their ideological foe, much of the commentary on the Right has chosen to overlook the fact that Clarkson was fired for beating up an underling and instead declared Clarkson to be a martyr sacrificed on the altar of political correctness. Writing in the Spectator, Rod Liddle has declared that the “rights and wrongs,” of the affair don’t matter because Clarkson was the victim of ‘liberal fascists’” at the top of the BBC and the Daily Mail claimed that Clarkson’s real offense was being “too white, too male, and too damned British.” Now, I have no doubt that much of the management of the BBC was delighted to be rid of the uncouth, un-PC star, but Clarkson’s sacking had nothing to do with his politics.
The fact of the matter is that he assaulted a junior staffer severely enough to send the man to the hospital over the fact that there was no hot dinner waiting for him at his hotel when he finished a day’s shooting. Clarkson isn’t a martyr. He’s an ass. That many conservatives seem to think that Jeremy Clarkson is a victim of a liberal fascism is deeply troubling. How are we supposed to combat the pernicious progressive cult of victimhood when we are so eager to claim the mantle of victim for ourselves?
Published in General
I like Top Gear a lot, and the Stigs, I and II. I hope a suitable replacement can be found for Clarkson.
You’re right, Clarkson was an ass at times. Many times. But he was often very funny, too. I think he was tired, and wanted to go out with a bang rather than a whimper.
River- I love top gear, but I don’t think this had anything to do with Clarkson wanting to go out with a bang rather than a whimper. Clarkson threw a tantrum because he didn’t get hot food and physically assaulted one of his employees. I just don’t think we should make excuses for that sort of behavior, even when the perpetrator is someone we like.
It’s always tough when a genuinely gifted person makes a genuine, almost unforgivable ass of themselves. Mel Gibson’s another example: because he had the “right” enemies, plenty of conservatives rushed to defend him. Believe me, it was hard to stand up for Gibson in Hollywood, and then he blew away his defenders by proving his enemies right. Ask David Horowitz how he feels for standing up for Mel.
Someone on Ricochet–I should look it up–with a UK background helped me understand Clarkson by saying that his offensive personality was an act, somewhat like Stephen Colbert’s, and that we should see “Top Gear” as more akin to “Red Eye” than to a conventional reality show about automobiles. That did help. I have always been put off by Top Gear’s “tour” of the American South a dozen years ago; this put it into a satirical context that was not at all obvious at the time.
Depends upon where you live and with whom you choose to associate.
My husband and I timed it beautifully- lived in NYC when we were broke, lived in CA when we were climbing the ladder and now live in a Floridian community in which we are the poorest folks in the neighborhood.
:)
Many people in the automotive and entertainment worlds reacted that way, not just on “the right”.
At the same time many on the right commented that his sacking was entirely justified.
The Clarkson story doesn’t divide neatly between left and right. It also divides according to the degree to which one glorifies celebrities in general.
I’ve read quite a few comments from apolitical celebrities defending Clarkson with lines akin to, “at the end of a hard day, I’d also be upset if I couldn’t get a hot meal”.
It’s a story that has as much to do with celebrity entitlement as it has to do with political affiliation.
Sal,
You are a lawyer aren’t you? “A white police officer shot an unarmed young black man who had his hands up”. How are you so sure that your statement above isn’t exactly the kind of trumped up hyperbole that precipitated the Ferguson nonsense. There are YouTube videos of Clarkson’s other “gaffes”. Almost every one is a PC exaggeration of what actually took place. This we can see for ourselves.
What if the “assault” was just a push? What if the trip to “the hospital” was not due to any injury whatsoever but just as a means of establishing a negotiating position by a PC savvy young talentless drone.
My comments above are pure speculation but so are yours in quotes above.
Regards,
Jim
Jim, Clarkson himself admitted the story is true. He’s asked his fans not to take it out on the man he punched around.
Regards, Gary
This is one of those things we’ll never get the “truth” because it’s based on subjective testimony.
Fact is, nobody ever punches a guy because they messed up the food order–more likely than not, this producer was a passive-aggressive needlerr who pushed Jeremy’s buttons for however long the two of them worked together.
The food was just the straw that broke the camel’s back at a moment of weakness.
Was Clarkson Justified? No.
Side note: Has anyone ever watched the NBA lately? See any of those players over-react to a push (or out-right fake a foul) trying to get a foul shot? Do you truly believe that kind of behavior only exists in the NBA?
I’m disappointed that Clarkson lost his cool, but I am skeptical that this is anything more than just a whiner.
because his lawyer told him to make that statement.
Well said, Sal.
Gary,
This is somewhat less than an admission. Again PC exaggeration at work. He isn’t really admitting to anything but making a joke out of it. I suspect he has a new show planned that doesn’t involve the BBC and will enjoy watching his replacement at BBC tank. Of course, there is no certainty about this result but that’s what free enterprise is about ‘risk’.
Regards,
Jim
Ben, Clarkson said he was a jerk, the guy he hit said he was a jerk, the evidence all points to him being a jerk, and nearly everyone but you believes Clarkson in this matter–he’s a jerk. But you disagree.
Ben, where are you getting your information on this? If this happened in Hollywood, Clarkson would get his C-of-C sued off and he’d be forced to make an abject public apology. If this happened in any American workplace he’d be gone. Why defend his actions? Not even he defends his actions.
This is like a courtroom scene where the defendant yells out “I was guilty! I’ll take what’s coming to me!” and the lawyer interrupts to say “What the hell does he know?”
Just out of curiosity, did he actually throw a tantrum because he didn’t get hot food and did he actually then physically assault one of his employees? Is he denying that this happened? I’m not saying either way, but I also haven’t really read anything about this except for Paddy’s piece last week and yours today. If he did it, I don’t really have any problem with his firing (although he still likely serves as an example of leftist outrage, etc… in other respects). If he didn’t actually do it, and there is some plausibility of a witchhunt, I’d find that somewhat more troubling.
I know you’re saying this somewhat tongue-in-cheek… but I’ve been in those courtrooms. No joke.
I’m not going to respond–re-read my comment, try again.
I agree with, Sal. I thought he was a funny enough guy the one or two times I saw the show, but I really despise the modern compulsion to defend boorish celebrities at all costs just because I have similar views on taxation or foreign policy. As if we should all close ranks when someone on our side behaves criminally. Not interested.
Don’t encourage Sal. It will go to his head.
(also, bad comma!)
Okay–let me clarify–I’m not defending him. Nowhere in my original comment will you see me complaining about him being fired.
And apparently that’s where the discussion ends. Because–reading between the lines and speculating about what really happened is now tantamount to defending Clarkson.
Do you really think things are that cut and dry?
What’s the point of a conversation if all you’re looking for are re-worded paragraphs of the same point of view?
All three of the hosts of BBC’s Top Gear were at the end of their current contracts this season. Clarkson will be paid everything his last contract called for and is free to negotiate a new deal elsewhere. It’s pretty clear, also, that May and Hammond see themselves, with Jeremy, as a 3 man package deal.
The only monetary loser in any of this kerfuffle is the BBC. They will lose a property that brought a gargantuan 300-350 Million worldwide viewers. If anyone is under the illusion that Top Gear will go on successfully without those 3 I would suggest they try watching the American version of the show. It’s been on since 2010 and hasn’t caused a ripple of attention.
Clarkson, May, and Hammond are all now free to sign on with any global content provider and, in fact, have already been huddling with the other force behind the success of Top Gear, executive producer Andy Wilman. Let the bidding begin for Jezza, Captain Slow, and the Hamster. (BTW- None of them would call themselves “Conservatives” in the American sense of that term. )
Ben
I’m not going to respond–re-read my comment, try again.
Some people get annoyed at condescending advice, but what the hell, I’m game. It’s Ricochet, after all. Here’s what I asked about–
more likely than not, this producer was a passive-aggressive needlerr who pushed Jeremy’s buttons for however long the two of them worked together.
More likely than not?? Based on what?
To be fair, and in the interests of full disclosure, I care just as little about Rosie O’Donnell leaving “The View”.
Gary,
We are in agreement about this at least. Perhaps the only thing one could care less about is how Lena Dunham’s boyfriend (a paid position) treats her when she comes home from a hard day’s work creating psychotic propaganda and throwing tantrums to get it called art.
Have I said too much.
Regards,
Jim
The difference being that in a professional sports field/arena/court, there are internal administrative processes for adjudicating that sort of behaviour (fouls, penalties, suspensions, etc.), and it (usually*) does not escalate to become a criminal matter.
May I assume that the general consensus of the Ricochetoisie is that something as serious as assault should not be considered an “internal administrative matter” for most other workplaces?
(*In the NHL, where fighting is “just a part of the game”, assault charges have been laid in extreme cases, largely because Canadian law does not allow any person to ever consent to harm, even in a pro hockey game.)
If she assaulted a producer and subsequently wasn’t fired, I wager that the Ricochetoisie might then care quite a bit about such a story.
Ryan- Clarkson has made a general admission and has not disputed any of the specific factual allegations made against him. The incident occurred in front of numerous eyewitnesses who all corroborate the same story. Clarkson returned to his hotel late in the evening after filming all day and when he found out that the hotels kitchen had closed and there was no hot food available. He spent 20 minutes verbally abusing a junior producer on the show, ultimately physically attacking him and only sees when he was pulled off the producer by bystanders. The producer’s injuries were severe enough that he needed to be taken to the emergency room.
Heck no, Jim, you haven’t said too much. Lena Dunham’s a great example of a pampered celebrity who acts shocked when the real world snaps back at them.
Mis,
We are adjudicating a case for which there is no physical evidence nor sworn testimony. We have just come off a situation where Darren Wilson was almost lynched by the Attorney General of the United States. The atmosphere of false accusation by the left is everywhere.
Do I like Jeremy more than I should? You bet. You’ve got to like something more than you should or you’re not alive. I haven’t seen one photo of the junior producer with a black eye or a mark on him. If Jeremy socked him surely we’d be seeing that. Nothing, just words. Like in Ferguson. “Hands up, don’t shoot.” Great words, it’s just that they were a complete lie.
Regards,
Jim
Jim, this time the words are the truth. Every person present agrees on what happened, including Clarkson. You can’t compare this with Ferguson.
I can’t quarrel with your enthusiasm for a colorful rogue, but I don’t share it.
huh… yes, I think that is very odd behavior for anyone. I would be curious to see how the whole thing came about, and yes it is strange that he hasn’t said more about it. I say that purely out of curiosity, having no idea of the man’s politics (but I did also hear that he dislikes piers morgan, which earns him points in my book). As Ben commented, above, a person does naturally have to wonder whether this is a culmination of sorts. In answer to Gary’s question to Ben, I would say that (at least in my case) the question is based on the fact that most normal people, especially people who otherwise manage success, do not fly off the handle simply because of dinner. If, however, there was a guy just waiting for a punch, and he made a remark at such a time, that could very well be the straw, so to speak. I guess I’d just base that on a logical assumption that the most reasonable explanation is probably the most accurate – he could be a flaming liberal and I’d say the same thing.
Well, they agree that something happened, no? I am more interested in the backstory… and it does seem odd that there is no picture of a guy in the ambulance. Of course, it is the NHS, is it not? Maybe they are still waiting for the ambulance to arrive.