Top Gear cleared over anti-Mexican comments
Ofcom has ruled that offensive comments made by presenters were justified by Top Gear's irreverent style.
Ofcom said that the depiction of Mexicans as "lazy, feckless, flatulent [and] overweight" was justified by Top Gear's irreverent style, but admitted that the comments had the potential to be 'very offensive'.
The comments made in January caused a minor diplomatic incident, with the Mexican ambassador in London branding it "xenophobic" and "offensive", one of 157 complaints from viewers.
As reported in the Guardian today, the watchdog acknowledged the programme's "irreverent style and sometimes outspoken humour" but cleared the BBC2 programme of breaching broadcasting regulations.
An Ofcom statement read: "Top Gear frequently uses national stereotypes as a comedic trope and that there were few, if any, nationalities that had not at some point been the subject of the presenters' mockery throughout the history of this long-running programme."
Ofcom added that the programme was "light-hearted in tone" and typically included "quirky and humorous banter between the presenters".
The BBC apologised to the Mexican ambassador five days after the programme aired, saying the comments may have been "rude" and "mischievous" but there was no "vindictiveness" behind them.