Resident Top Gear head honcho, racist and staff-beating pugilist, Jeremy Clarkson, has been dumped by the BBC to the fury of many and the great relief of the rest. And with the news of his sacking, interestingly it’s been a number of the car companies and other brands that have rallied in support of the unemployed presenter.
Controversy has always been 54-year-old Clarkson’s schtick. He has offended nearly every minority group imaginable- from race, to gender, to people with disabilities and even truck drivers. Yet despite the continual controversy the car program is universally popular, and Clarkson is stinking rich (with an estimated net worth of $30 million pounds).
According to the BBC, in 2014 Top Gear TV was watched estimated 370 million people weekly, with over three million YouTube subscribers, 19 million Facebook fans, one million Twitter followers and a magazine with a global circulation of 1.67 million.
However all of this has come to a screeching halt, with the announcement that Clarkson will no longer be gracing viewers with his racist, sexist, homophobic views- mixed with car commentary.
Brands have taken to social media to react to the sacking, with either supporting or scathing results:
Toyota
Thanks for everything @JeremyClarkson. It's been smashing #topgear https://t.co/kaKMLKEdRP
— ToyotaUK (@ToyotaUK) March 25, 2015
Aldi UK
Don’t worry @JeremyClarkson, our Chipping Norton store’s opening soon, so contact @AldiCareersUK if you’re interested :) #RIPTopGear
— Aldi Stores UK (@AldiUK) March 25, 2015
WWE
#RIPTopGear? Don't worry, @JeremyClarkson…@WWE Superstars are no stranger to this kind of controversial situation: http://t.co/PCr95CmwHa
— WWE (@WWE) March 25, 2015
Virgin Media
BREAKING NEWS: Zayn Malik has left One Direction… to replace Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear. #ZaynMalik #RIPTopGear pic.twitter.com/szOHIVbMII
— Virgin Media 🐐 (@virginmedia) March 25, 2015
iRadio
Hey @JeremyClarkson .. not sure if you've heard, but there's a job going over at @onedirection
— iRadio (@ThisisiRadio) March 25, 2015
Red Bull UK
With Clarkson leaving @BBC_TopGear The Stig is looking at his options pic.twitter.com/DvvGtzdGgl
— Red Bull UK (@RedBullUK) March 25, 2015
Papa John Pizza
#RIPTopGear! Why not embark on an episode marathon and fuel up with Papa John's pizza. http://t.co/7qQRwOlQhZ pic.twitter.com/W6YnqXPoLd
— Papa Johns UK (@PapaJohnsUK) March 25, 2015
Paddy Power
Think it's safe to say #Clarkson has indeed been given the boot from #TopGear. pic.twitter.com/8deNOqL1n4
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) March 25, 2015
Tony Hall, BBC’s director general, released a statement saying that continuing Top Gear in 2016 “will be a big challenge and there is no point in pretending otherwise”.
Reactions of co-workers:
Gutted at such a sad end to an era. We're all three of us idiots in our different ways but it's been an incredible ride together.
— Richard Hammond (@RichardHammond) March 25, 2015
