On November 30th 2011, British public sector workers went on strike regarding their pensions. Considered to be ‘the biggest bout of industrial unrest since the 1979 winter of discontent’ according to the Guardian, with an estimated 2 million public sector workers taking part, it seemed that many of the British public supported the strike (and if not, did not mention it), Jeremy Clarkson however, notorious for his controversial comments, made the following statement on the BBC’s One Show:
“I’d have them all shot. I would take them outside and execute them in front of their families.”
See the video here:
Ordinarily Clarkson’s comment would have been brushed under the carpet and disregarded, probably with an aside stating that Clarkson is just extremely skilled at disgruntling people. Indeed, JC has gained a reputation for making obtuse remarks. (Read about some of his best here.) Although I do not agree with his remark, surely Clarkson was just doing what he has always done? Made a “silly” comment, (David Cameron’s response), perhaps in an attempt to raise some eyebrows, but not meant in all seriousness. Indeed, the BBC swiftly issued a response stating that Clarkson often overstepped the mark in his ‘quest for “comic” value’. However, rather than shrugging their shoulders as they may have done pre-social media, JC’s comments sparked mass hysteria amongst the British public on social media outlets.
By the following morning, the BBC had received 22,000 complaints, which finally totalled at 38,000. Many calling for Clarkson to be sacked for his outrageous comments, whilst broadcasting regulator Ofcom were pushed to investigate the comment made on the 7pm daily show.
Further than this, Dave Prentis, General Secretary of Unison union called the BBC requesting for Clarkson to be sacked, and contacted lawyers in the hope the Clarkson could be reported to the police for inciting violence.
Clarkson was forced to apologise for his comments, saying that he did not mean for them to be taken seriously, that his comments were taken out of context. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Clarkson said:
“I was just making a joke about the BBC’s need to be impartial. If you listen to the whole interview, you’ll see there isn’t a case to answer.
“Most people who are complaining haven’t seen the full interview.”
Clarkson hit national news the following day as a result of the public’s outcry. However, was his sardonic comment really worth so much media attention, and would people really have complained before social media provided a platform for individuals to publish their knee-jerk reactions? Social media in November therefore provided the perfect medium for mass hysteria, as the British public overreacted, made incensed statements and ranted about Clarkson’s comments – in a style similar to something Jeremy himself would have been proud of had he not been the subject!