Jeremy Clarkson apology: Amazon ‘cuts ties’ with columnist after Meghan Markle row

[ad_1]

Get our free Morning Headlines email to get news from our correspondents around the world

Amazon has reportedly cut ties with Jeremy Clarkson, as the future of his presenting career has been called into question weeks after he made controversial comments about Meghan Markle.

Sources told Variety that Prime Video, the tech giant’s streaming service, will not work with the British presenter after episodes of The Grand Tour and Clarkson’s Farm have already been played.

In December, the former Top Gear presenter published a controversial column in The Sun, writing that he despised Meghan on a “cellular level” and dreamed of the Duchess being paraded naked across Britain while a mob threw “poo” at her.

He said that his employers are Amazon and ITV, where he presents Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? , were “glowing” over his comments.

The Independent understands that ITV has made no further commitments to Mr Clarkson beyond the upcoming series of the quiz programme.

Mr. Clarkson’s representatives have been contacted to respond. Amazon said, “We won’t be commenting on this and don’t have anything to add.”

A press conference with Mr Clarkson marking the upcoming second series of his award-winning agricultural program has been canceled after reports of the Amazon split.

Shortly before the reports emerged, Mr Clarkson issued a lengthy public apology on his Instagram saying he “felt sick” when he realized he had “totally wrong” the column that became IPSO’s UK press watcher who complained more than any article ever.

Mr Clarkson also revealed that he emailed Ms Markle and Prince Harry on Christmas Day, admitting his language was “disgraceful” and that he was “deeply sorry”. His column focused on the couple’s media profile.

After the article was published in December, several MPs called for Clarkson to be banned from television for his “hideous” comments.

In a statement on Monday, the presenter recounted the backlash he received. He said: “The Sun quickly apologized and tried to explain myself. But even so, there were calls for me to be fired and charged with a hate crime.

A screenshot from Clarkson’s Instagram account shows the presenters apologizing for his comments

(PA)

More than 60 MPs demanded action. ITV, who make Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and Amazon, who make The Farm Show and The Grand Tour, were glowing.”

Speaking at a Broadcasting Press Guild event in December, ITV Studios managing director Kevin Lygo said Mr Clarkson’s comments about the Duchess of Sussex were “appalling” but added that the broadcaster planned to keep him as host of the game show “for now”.

Critics have accused Clarkson of sexism over his comments about Ms. Markle. He was publicly reprimanded for the column by his daughter, who said she stood up against “misogyny, bullying, and the treatment of women by the media.”

In his apology, Mr Clarkson said: “I am not sexist and I hate violence against women.”

Mr Clarkson was publicly reprimanded for the column by his daughter, who said she stood up against “misogyny, bullying and the treatment of women by the media”.

In an earlier controversy, Mr Clarkson was removed from Top Gear in 2015 after it was revealed that he had physically attacked a producer on the popular BBC motors show.

The public broadcaster parted ways with its star presenter at a time when Top Gear was recently listed by Guiness World Records as the most-watched reality show worldwide.

[ad_2]