Richard Hammond has been criticised for suggesting ice cream is for homosexuals.
The TV presenter made the comments on The Grand Tour, a reboot of Top Gear produced by Netflix, which he hosts with Jeremy Clarkson and Richard May.
Discussing the interior of a Rolls Royce in front of a live studio audience, Clarkson said: “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.”
Hammond's co-hosts appeared surprised as the audience applauded Hammond.
“Why are you applauding him?” said Clarkson “What do you mean? … You’re saying all children are homosexual?”
Hammond continued, saying that “ice-cream is a bit, you know...There’s nothing wrong with it, but a grown man eating an ice-cream – it’s that way, rather than that way.
LGBT rights charity Stonewall was quick to call Hammond to account, with a spokesperson saying the comments were “chosen purposefully to mock and belittle”.
“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.”
🤗 hello & here's the full richard hammond 'ice creams are gay' piece and yeah, it's awful pic.twitter.com/JhDisRsc1Q
— Ollie Cole (@ProducerOllie) December 26, 2016
