Top Gear’s ‘racist’ Mexican segment dropped from Australian broadcast
A controversial Top Gear segment featuring the hosts poking fun at “lazy, feckless, flatulent” Mexicans will not be aired in Australia, Mumbrella has learned.
In Australia, Top Gear is broadcast on Nine a few weeks after it goes out in the UK.
But BBC Worldwide has decided to drop the segment from its international version of the show.
When it was broadcast in the UK last week it generated a formal complaint from the Mexican ambassador in London and an apology from the BBC.
A spokesman for BBC Worldwide told Mumbrella that the version of Top Gear shown internationally is 50 minutes, ten minutes shorter than the British version and the segment would be dropped.
She said: “Clearly it was felt that it was appropriate to remove this contentious content. Added to which, we then didn’t get clearance on international broadcast of the still of the Mastretta that was in the background.”
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An entire episode of Top Gear was dedicated to sticking it up Australians ahead of the The Ashes back in November. Good to see this conservatism doesn’t extend to the colonies.
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Who cares. They did see how we reported about Sol T, yeah?
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He’s got a point though to be fair.
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“He” being whom?
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For me, ego-protest by Mexico distracts from the true, insidious, vile racism that sadly pervades many societies.
This hubris may give some tabloid sense of justice being done for the oppressed of the world.
In reality, patriotic pride play by Mexico’s ambassador distracts and diverts from the ugly reality of racism, which Mexico perpetuates as much as any other country.
The Mexican Ambassador should probably watch some Speedy Gonzales cartoons and get a grip on his pride.
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There is no racism here. Mexico is not a race it is a nation. A nation with a culture that has affected its economy and success, or lack thereof. Sadly we now live in the culture of perpetual victimization. Rather than give the BBC the bird and try harder to be better than the UK the Mexican ambassador took the lazy way out and complained about the victimization of the image of Mexico. It is now the world we live in. And poor Australia has decided that free speech and expression is second to the “feelings” of the self described victims.
The antidote to odious speech is not the suppression of speech, it is more speech. That grand tradition has ended. We now bend to the simple minded and the craven who, rather than make a counter argument, just cry racism and pronounce it all to be settled in their favor.
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What Max said.
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Spot on Max Sand!
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VIVA MEXICO……..
PUTOS INGLESES
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Yeah right……So that means Nine will stuff another ad in there-isn’t 40 minutes enough?
That BBC Worldwide flack’s excuse about the uncleared image is a corker too…google “Mastretta” my dear!
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I thought they insulted everyone – isn’t that what they do?
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Yeah that’s right juan, bloody English!
Hang on, is that being racist?
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I found their behavior in Vietnam far more offensive. To the point of switching channels – in fact it’s the one and only thing I really hold against them (aside from Clarkson’s use of double denim)
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A pretty large section of last night’s Good News Week was dedicated to Mexican-bashing. Does it not rate well enough to count as racist?
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I’m sorry, but there’s a thin line between humor and pure stupidness. In Top Gear, they crossed that line.
I’m aware they make fun of other countries, but in this case, they displayed such ignorance, I really don’t think I can watch the show again.
They think they are battling ‘political correctness’. Well, they are not. We could’ve laughed at the ‘tortilla’ joke. Maybe another. But they went too far, without realizing they have an extremely large amount of viewers in México, and it was more than obvious that we wouldn’t accept this kind of offense.
We’re not trying to be the ‘victims’ here. We just cannot stand such idiocy.
Our culture is magnificent. Our food is one of the best.
And yes, I wake up every morning and remember I’m mexican. And I love every minute of it.
P.S. What Juan said.
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Max Sand, well said and I agree 100% – we now bow to the lowest common denominator, I do note that it’s the BBC that’s editing it though, not the ABC. I didn’t feel it was as bad as everyone’s making out, do you hear the Aussies objecting to the stereotypes and the ‘cheating’ against the Aussie guys in the other segments? No, we just give it back better…
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Can someone explain to me why they think it was a good idea not to show this in Australia? Notice I didn’t ask if you thought it was racist, clever, or funny
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Hey # 2 – they made Mexican references due to Sol’s hispanic heritage.
If Sol had been French they would have made frog’s legs references, if german then ‘stern’ and officious type reference along with ‘don’t mention the war’ comments. They are teasing light hearted comments and hardly vicious or mean.
Aussie in the UK press get convict references, loud obnoxious uncultured etc” and its not the end of the world
I don’t think any of the media’s comments about Sol were out of line although I do think these top gear comments were rather OTT
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I thought the in studio banter bits were regularly edited to make a 43 minute show.
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Does that mean we are blacklisting (shit! can’t use that term any more) “The Flying Burrito Brothers” as well?
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There is a difference between laughing with you and laughing at you. It was in poor, classes taste.
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Classless, sorry.
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Remember kids, it’s only racist if they’re black, brown or yellow.
If there’s juan thing that annoys me it’s double standards.
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@Simon B
We will always better your ‘better’…
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Oh! Please they are not the Messiah they are just naughty little boys ….and thats why I love watching them, Except when they blew up a Routemaster Bus.- yes even I have been dismayed by thier antics.
They have the abiity to “tease” everyone. Please don’t let their style of humour get washed away with political correctness, it is gutsy TV if you don’t like it ,switch off or change channels!!
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This really has nothing to do with Mexican sensibilities. It has everything to do with Cameron making a state visit to Mexico in a few weeks and Mexico having no leverage…until now.
You can bet that Cameron will be groveling in the grandest tradition of the politically correct multiculturalists. This allows Mexico to put the UK on their back foot right from the beginning. It is all rather shrewd actually. The ambassador snivels in his most crave n fashion and the PM collapses in a heap of postmodern slime. In the meantime we all agree to politely ignore the pottery sold on the street in Mexico that shows a man in a sombrero, wearing a poncho snoozing against a fence post. An intelligent person would have a difficult time taking all this seriously. Sadly the UK, US and Australian governments have a shortage of intelligent people.
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This string is a pretty sad indictment of the mentality of the posters who seem genuinely incapable of distinguishing between (admittedly sometimes ill-directed) ‘political correctness’ and real spiteful invective – which should undoubtedly be called out, but not necessarily surpressed. Take a few minutes to read Steve Coogan’s brilliantly argued and written riposte, and perhaps you might see the other side ….?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-a.....eve-coogan
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I would have run it in Australia – this is our type of humor is it not? I was bought up on not taking things seriously…such as drummers and politicians.
This was funny and was over at the end of the segment.
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Anthony, I guess it depends on your point of view; you thought it was funny, but perhaps your mexican mate (or someone from another ethnic minority) might not…Is it legitimate to portray muslims, ‘pakis’ etc in a derogatory way ? Do you genuinely not see any potential harm in this ‘This is our type of humor (sic) ‘ seems to be a justification of’ ingrained racism.
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Mike I subscribe to a time and place for this sort of thing. I believe in this time and this place, the same as Hale and Pace did to Australians and New Zealanders on TV last night. Top gear guys have earnt my respect to know it was not malicious…so I enjoyed it.
I am very respectful of all cultures but i know when a joke is just that, something to laugh at and enjoy. Too many people and too much differentiation on this planet for us to make everyone happy…so for those that liked it enjoy, for those who don’t please see the next joke
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Hi Mike
I read the Guardian column, and I’m afraid I haven’t changed my mind.
I don’t think the majority of us take entertainment programes, such as Top Gear that serously, please give us a little bit of credit for putting our own perspective on things.
You, like your mate at the Guardian think the boys are Tossers! Fine, don’t watch the show, the adverts aren’t any better, just more frequent, so you won’t miss a thing, watch another station or read a book, it is quite simple .
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Chris, thanks for the advice. I agree that TG is entertainment, and whether you like it or not is both subjective, and moot. I don’t quite follow the logic, however, that if I don’t watch it, then somehow the issue raised about whether the presenters’ lazy stereotyping constitutes racism or not, and whether this is potentially dangerous, or not, goes away. Next time there’s a (quite legitimate) issue raised in an industry forum, seeking constructive debate, I promise I’ll follow a course of action which you seem to subscribe to – close my eyes, stick my fingers in my ears, and say “blah blah blah” REALLY REALLY LOUD. ps hope you’re enjoying the re-runs of ‘Love thy Neighbour’
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Oh for Christ’s sake! This censorship is getting out of control.
The mark of a mature culture, race or religion is that it can laugh at itself.
If it can’t then it needs to be given a good going-over until it eventually works out that a sense of humour is the hallmark of evolution. And if, after all that, they’re still hypersensitive, then screw ’em. We’ll keep making jokes and keep mocking them until they grow up.
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Hi All,
I’m glad they decided to ban this segment.
I’m constantly abused re: my hispanic background by my so called “true blue” mates so any way we can reduce ammunition for them is great in my books.
Burma is not Mexico.
Go the Melbourne Storm.
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With Top Gear being 10mins shorter, does that mean that the next show on Channel 9 will actually run on time?
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No Mike, I am either watching Top Gear, or another programme I wish to watch or reading a book.!
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BBC and Top Gear !Always! trim the episodes down for international broadcast, as does countless other shows. Its the reporting that makes this issue a race one, not top gear nor the bbc nor the writers nor the viewers. There are 100 reasons for every decisions, pick another reason and maybe racism will die out from lack of media coverage.
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I’m pretty surprised by how many people are justifying what was said on thisTop Gear segment.
If you guys truly don’t think it is racism, come down to Mexico with me and say it to someone’s face. See how they take it.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m hardly offended by stereotype jokes, and there are plenty on Top Gear, but there was a certain vitriol to what was said in this segment that denotes a real snobbery that goes beyond just being “naughty little boys”.
And don’t bother telling me I’m being PC, or you can just switch off. The point is I highly doubt they have any respect for Mexican culture, which is why they can say such juvenile comments.
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Everyone has been to Mexico of course?
And seen the symbolic sleepy Mexican-in-sombrero-asleep-under-tree souvenirs *everywhere*?
And referring to this celebrated national icon of indolence humorously is racism?
I don’t get it. I really don’t see it as racism. So yeah, book me that ticket to Cancun and let’s have a party with them.
Marginalising Mexicans to a sub-class who are not worthy of citizenship and be singled out for police attention via racial profiling by, say a large neighbour (I’m looking at you especially, Arizona)
All because they are seen to do the jobs others won’t, to get ahead – that sounds more like racism. But that’s the inconvenient truth here, not Top Gear making jokes.
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Why did the Mexican push his wife off the cliff?
(Mumbrella notes: we’re nervously allowing this. The reply may not make it under our comment moderation policy…)
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Agree with you Kevin H, but your right to speak freely will probably pis off some snobby bogan;)
Btw, The Storm are pack of cheats, if not the whole NRL, shame on you & them.
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All i can say is i am glad i can download the original BBC show a couple of hours after airing in the UK and watch – uninterupted – the entire program.
Channel 9 takes 90 minutes to play the 59 minute program so obviously a cut means more advertising.
Need i say, since broadband internet, i no longer watch broadcast TV.
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Pack of cheats? Thought you said pack of chips for a second and i started dreaming about Nachos.
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@ Kevin H
Speaking of Nachos; I have a good friend who is from Mexico and is a cheese maker, well known for his quick turnaround of the curd. We call him ‘Cheesy Gonzalez’.
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