Jeremy Clarkson n-word row: Piers Morgan renews feud with host of Top Gear

 
Feud: Piers Morgan (right) and Jeremy Clarkson (Picture: Getty/Rex)
Robin de Peyer2 May 2014

Piers Morgan today renewed his feud with Jeremy Clarkson as the Top Gear host denied claims he used racist language on camera.

Former newspaper editor and US television presenter Morgan claimed the BBC show has been "laced with casual racism for years" in a series of tweets aimed at his old foe.

A video published online appears to show Clarkson reciting children's nursery rhyme "eeny meeny miny moe".

He then seems to mumble the line "Catch a n****r by his toe".

The footage first appeared in Morgan's old paper the Daily Mirror, which said "audio forensic experts" had studied the clip and "confirmed" the presenter used the 'n' word.

Jeremy Clarkson denied using it.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">I did not use the n word. Never use it. The Mirror has gone way too far this time.— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/JeremyClarkson/statuses/461748582660722688" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-252316-https://twitter.com/JeremyClarkson/statuses/461748582660722688" data-vars-event-id="c23">May 1, 2014</a>

In one of a series of tweets after the report surfaced, Morgan posted a reference to former football pundit Ron Atkinson to his four million followers.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">Ron Atkinson was fired by <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/ITV" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-252316-https://twitter.com/ITV" data-vars-event-id="c23">@ITV</a> for using the N-word. Don't see how the BBC can avoid firing <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/JeremyClarkson" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-252316-https://twitter.com/JeremyClarkson" data-vars-event-id="c23">@JeremyClarkson</a> if he did the same.— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/statuses/461640446934913026" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-252316-https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/statuses/461640446934913026" data-vars-event-id="c23">April 30, 2014</a>

Morgan, who has had a long-running feud with Clarkson since the Top Gear host punched him at the 2004 British Press Awards, then posted a series of further tweets on the subject.

He also posted a reference to Clarkson saying he named his dog after ex-Chelsea Didier Drogba.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">So it's OK because Clarkson only MUMBLES the N-word? Got it. Let's see him mumble that rhyme to his 'hero' <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/didierdrogba" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-252316-https://twitter.com/didierdrogba" data-vars-event-id="c23">@didierdrogba</a> then.— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/statuses/461853512729509888" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-252316-https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/statuses/461853512729509888" data-vars-event-id="c23">May 1, 2014</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">No surprise that so many Top Gear fans don't see a problem with Clarkson using N-word. Show's been laced with casual racism for years.— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/statuses/461854805623721984" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-252316-https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/statuses/461854805623721984" data-vars-event-id="c23">May 1, 2014</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">Nothing personal re <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/JeremyClarkson" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-252316-https://twitter.com/JeremyClarkson" data-vars-event-id="c23">@JeremyClarkson</a> - just returning the favour.— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/statuses/461858118184366080" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-252316-https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/statuses/461858118184366080" data-vars-event-id="c23">May 1, 2014</a>

Former CNN talkshow host Morgan has also recently challenged Clarkson to a charity boxing match, although the invitation is not yet thought to have been accepted.

He has since joked that he could be the man to take over from Clarkson in the event the presenter is sacked.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "We’ve seen the story, the Mirror didn’t approach us, clearly we’ll establish the facts before commenting."

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