Culture

Top Gear Mexico Comments Video: Ambassador Demands Apology

by Jon Azpiri | February 3, 2011 at 03:34 pm

2789 views | 2 Recommendations | 5 comments

The folks at Top Gear appear to have offended the people of Mexico, or at least its politicians. Some UK MPs have asked for a Top Gear apology for remarks made about Mexico after the Mexican Ambassador to the UK wrote to the BBC to complain about the Top Gear Mexico comments.

What Did They Say About Mexico on Top Gear?

Top Gear were talking about the Mexican sportscar Mastretta the "tortilla car".

Richard Hammond and James May joked that Mexico produced cars that reflected its national character. "They're going to be a lazy, feckless, flatulent oaf with a mustache, leaning against a fence asleep, looking at a cactus with a blanket with a hole in the middle on as a coat."

James May added that Mexican food was 'like sick with cheese on it'.

In an open letter to the BBC, the Mexican ambassador to the UK wrote: ‘These offensive, xenophobic and humiliating remarks only serve to reinforce negative stereotypes and perpetuate prejudice against Mexico and its people.

Here is the Top Gear Mexico comments video.

1 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend Sign In or Join to post comments

jose luis rojas (not verified)

at 19:08 on February 3rd, 2011

Make no mistake, they offended the mexican people, not their politicians. And one thing is to criticize a car and another different to badmouth a whole culture which by their comments they clearly are ignorant of. Humour is not ignorance or racism.

Leonie (not verified)

at 00:30 on February 4th, 2011

pfft. it's no different to calling a New Zealander a sheep shagger. It's all in good fund and i really don't believe that if people took the comments literally it would incite hatred towards Mexican people. If you wanna blame someone for the sterotyping of Mexicans as described by the Top Gear guys, blame Hollywood because honestly, how many movies have we seen with Mexicans portrayed as the big guy with a moustache, snoozing somewhere.

GIMD (not verified)

at 18:05 on February 10th, 2011

That just shows your ignorance too. Blame your education system, not Hollywood! What they say about Mexican food is just hilarious, only Mexican and French food are considered World Heritage by UNESCO. They complain about (or make fun of) the Mexican food. I could bet that "Mexican food" was cooked by a "lazy pome" that couldn't be bothered to investigate how to cook it properly.And now, I'm being the racist... but don't worry..."it's all in good fund"

Josefo (not verified)

at 01:19 on February 4th, 2011

They offended mexicans and not the car only. This show is about cars and they should have criticised the car, not the country and its culture. Bullies pick on people who do not protest and do not defend themselves. I am a mexican, and I have never allowed a bully to pick on me. Humor is something else.The sad thing is that the producer of this car, a hardworking man, intelligent and ambicious, has now been severely affected by the comments of this people, and believe it or not the economy of a country has been affected as well. It is not outrageous to think that without these comments the mexican car could become a good car for the public throughout the world, but after these comments who will want to buy THE TORTILLA CAR, these people have no respect and have destroyed the dream of one man and the possibilities of a growing economy of a whole country.

The 1

at 02:56 on February 4th, 2011

Yeah, those reported comments were a little over the top. I'm not sure in what context they were being made. Sounds more like satire or some comedic monologue exchange here. Otherwise it's Brit humor gone arye. Nothing intentional, just being more politically incorrect maybe.