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Clarkson Accused of Misleading by Argentinian Ambassador: BBC Complaint

It turns out Jeremy Clarkson’s story of the Falklands number plate incident he wrote for the Sunday Times has triggered off Argentina’s ambassador to the U.K. After writing a long statement for The Independent herself in which she blamed Top Gear of misleading the actual facts, a week ago, Alicia Castor has now formally complained to the BBC. She disagrees with the provocative behavior of Jeremy Clarkson and his allegations that Argentinean officials conspired in violent protests against the team. It’s been weeks now since the Top Gear team fled Argentina in the middle of the shooting of a two-episode Christmas special. Everything was working just fine when locals, and eventually the team itself, realized that one of the cars brought for the show, Jeremy Clarkson’s Porsche, was wearing an offensive license plate. The number read H982 FKL, which could also stand for the Falklands War, a very sensitive subject in the South American country. Everybody claims it was a misunderstanding, apart from Clarkson
Clarkson Accused of Misleading by Argentinian Ambassador 1 photo
Photo: Edited by Autoevolution
Several explanations were made by the show’s hosts and even by the producer, Andy Wilman, that all state it was just a big misunderstanding. It would seem, however, Clarkson has managed to once again bring upon himself all the controversy. Clarkson wrote an official statement of how he believes everything went on, for Sunday Times newspaper and also commented for The Sun. Problem is, Argentina disagrees with a lot of the details the TV presenter enlisted.

In fact, Alicia Castor, the ambassador of Argentina to the UK, claims Jeremy Clarkson’s tale about the entire scandal is quite misleading, as she blames the British TV host of overstating the entire story and blaming the country for things they never did. The diplomat wrote a long statement for The Independent a week ago, but now decided it was time to turn it formal.

Clarkson: we walked into a trap

Her complaint refers to claims made by Clarkson which state that the Argentinean authorities conspired in setting a “trap” for the Top Gear team, who were forced to leave the country. According to The Independent, Argentina is angry over an article written by Top Gear’s host for the Sunday Times and comments made in the Sun, claiming officials were implicated in mob violence which erupted after it was noticed that he was driving his car with the wrong number plate.

Among other issues, Clarkson alleged: “Tierra del Fuego is not listed as a problem for visitors by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, but there is no question in my mind that we walked into a trap.” His statement in the Sun was even harsher, as the TV celebrity wrote: “I am still convinced the mob was state organized.”

Meanwhile, BBC responded it “has received a complaint and will apply its usual processes.”
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