Top Gear star Richard Hammond apologises for homophobic joke

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 13:37 · Archive

Richard Hammond has apologised for making a joke that drew accusations of being homophobic.

Richard Hammond, the 56-year-old presenter of Top Gear and Prime Video's The Grand Tour, has apologised for making a joke that faced accusations of being homophobic. Speaking on Jake Humphrey's High Performance podcast in an episode released on Thursday, Hammond said he made the joke in the context of his social circle, where he believed there were 'no isms or ists'.

Hammmond acknowledged that while the joke might have been acceptable amongst his friends, it would not be funny to a young person struggling to come out to his family in difficult circumstances. 'If you're a 15-year-old Scottish lad, living in a tenement somewhere, who needs to tell his father he's gay and he's going to get the crap kicked out of him, it ain't funny,' he said.

He expressed regret about his time at the BBC, saying he should have opened a conversation about the controversy rather than remaining silent. Hammond said he would have been willing to engage with criticism and acknowledge he was wrong, noting that context and audience matter when making jokes.

How it is being reported

• Top Gear star Richard Hammond reveals regrets in public apologyTop Gear and The Grand Tour star Richard Hammond has revealed his regrets in a public apology.Oxfordshire Guardian · 26 Oct, 13:00
• Top Gear star Richard Hammond reveals regrets in public apologyTop Gear and The Grand Tour star Richard Hammond has revealed his regrets in a public apology.Oxford Mail · 26 Oct, 13:00

In this story: Richard Hammond · Top Gear · The Grand Tour · Jake Humphrey · BBC

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