JEREMY Clarkson has broken his silence at the outrage caused by a newspaper column where he detailed his hatred for Meghan Markle.
The former Top Gear presenter wrote in The Sun that he hated the Duchess of Sussex on a "cellular level".
Clarkson wrote that he couldn't sleep at night because he was "dreaming of the day" Markle could be paraded naked through every street in Britain and have excrement thrown at her, in a reference to an infamous scene in Game of Thrones.
In the wake of his column, Clarkson's daughter called out his misogyny, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said his comments were "vile", criticism came from a domestic violence charity and a whopping 6000 complaints have been made to press regulator IPSO.
Now, Clarkson, 62, has addressed the claims on Twitter.
He wrote: "Oh dear. I’ve rather put my foot in it. In a column I wrote about Meghan, I made a clumsy reference to a scene in Game of Thrones and this has gone down badly with a great many people.
"I’m horrified to have caused so much hurt and I shall be more careful in future."
Clarkson’s article followed the recent broadcast of Harry and Meghan’s explosive six-part Netflix documentary, in which the couple made allegations of mistreatment by the royal family.
Those criticising the piece included Sturgeon, Carol Vorderman, Sir Philip Pullman and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
A spokesperson for Ipso said that the regulator had received more than 6000 complaints about Clarkson’s article as of midday on Monday.
He added that the complaints were being assessed in accordance with its standard procedure.
Ipso received a total of 14,355 complaints in 2021, the spokesman added.
Speaking to broadcasters on Monday, Sturgeon said Clarkson’s comments about the duchess were “beyond the pale”.
“I think what he said about Meghan Markle was deeply misogynist and just downright awful and horrible,” she said.
“I have to say, taking a step back from it, my overwhelming emotion about guys like Jeremy Clarkson is pity.
“I mean, what is it that makes somebody so distorted by hate that they end up writing these things?
“I think that possibly gives an insight into Jeremy Clarkson and the kind of person he is.
“So maybe he just needs to take a step back from things and just think about life a bit more.”
Oh dear. I’ve rather put my foot in it. In a column I wrote about Meghan, I made a clumsy reference to a scene in Game of Thrones and this has gone down badly with a great many people. I’m horrified to have caused so much hurt and I shall be more careful in future.
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) December 19, 2022
Clarkson’s daughter, Emily Clarkson, said in an online post that she is “against everything that my dad wrote”.
“My views are and have always been clear when it comes to misogyny, bullying and the treatment of women by the media,” she said, in a statement shared on her Instagram story.
“I want to make it very clear that I stand against everything that my dad wrote about Meghan Markle and I remain standing in support of those that are targeted with online hatred.”
Former Countdown host Vorderman said Clarkson’s comments were unacceptable “in any circumstance”.
“NO Jeremy Clarkson. Not on any level, in any circumstance, is it ok to write this stuff about any woman & absolutely NO to ‘everyone who’s my age thinks the same’.
“No no no. We absolutely do NOT think the same. Listen to the noise Jeremy. The crowds are chanting ‘shame on YOU’.”
Khan said Clarkson’s remarks were “dangerous and inexcusable”, writing: “As Jeremy Clarkson should well know – words have consequences.
“The words in his piece are no joke – they’re dangerous and inexcusable.
“We are in an epidemic of violence against women and girls and men with powerful voices must do better than this.”
Sir Philip, author of His Dark Materials, described Clarkson as “a brief loud noise and a brief bad smell”, but criticised Rupert Murdoch – owner of News UK, the organisation that publishes The Sun.
As well as Top Gear, Clarkson is known for his Amazon motoring show, The Grand Tour, which he presents alongside Richard Hammond and James May, as well as ITV’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
Amazon, ITV and The Sun have all been approached for comment.
Harry and Meghan’s Archewell foundation has also been approached for comment over the remarks.
