Motoring journalist Richard Hammond has been criticised for suggesting that eating ice-cream makes a grown man look gay.
Hammond was discussing the interior decor of a Rolls Royce alongside regular pals Jeremy Clarkson and James May on the trio’s new TV series The Grand Tour which is available exclusively through Amazon.
In front of a studio audience, Clarkson pointed to an image of the interior of a Rolls Royce, saying: “The only problem is that in one of those, you couldn’t enjoy a chocolate Magnum ice-cream.”
“It’s all right, I don’t eat ice-cream,” Hammond replied. “It’s something to do with being straight.”
UK charity Stonewall has criticised the comments.
“Stonewall trains teachers to tackle homophobic, biphobic and transphobic slurs like these, so to hear this sort of language on television is extremely disappointing and sends the wrong message to young people.” a spokesperson said.
The trio left the BBC’s popular show Top Gear after Clarkson was fired for abusing a producer, his colleagues Hammond and May also quit in protest over Clarkson’s firing.
It’s not the first time Hammond has been accused of being homophobic. Back in 2015, alongside Clarkson, he was accused of posting a homophobic tweet while visiting Western Australia.
On that occasion the pair posted a picture of themselves in front of the Margaret River Fudge Factor and told their followers that they’d both gotten jobs “as packers”.
Richard Hammond gags while explaining ‘men who eat ice-cream are gay’ on The Grand Tour, ep 6.
Are men that watch this show bigoted weasels? pic.twitter.com/G4W9ziqLch— Hayden Scott-Baron (@docky) December 26, 2016
Someone tell Richard Hammond that if he finds himself wanting to shag men whenever he eats icecream it’s proooobably not the icecream.
— Spigon Ruxide (@ossiezero) December 27, 2016
I found Richard Hammond’s masculinity #icecreamgate pic.twitter.com/W9rdDtHwgK
— Shell (@shells_twits) December 27, 2016
Anyone calling Richard Hammond detractors ‘snowflakes’ should bear in mind we’re not the ones who are so fragile we’re afraid of a Mr Whippy
— John Shafthauer (@hourlyterrier) December 27, 2016
@BBCNews people are so easily offended nowadays. I’m offended that nobody can speak their mind any more #richardhammond
— Richard Goodall (@RichardCGoodall) December 27, 2016
