Top Gear responds to viewers' "bullying" concerns
Update: Top Gear has responded after some viewers expressed bullying concerns about Chris Harris' treatment during Sunday's (June 30) episode.
Show bosses made it clear that the programme doesn't condone bullying at all and "never" would, stressing that Chris and his co-hosts Freddie Flintoff and Paddy McGuinness are firm friends and "enjoy teasing each other" during their big set-piece challenges on the BBC Two show.
"Top Gear's producers do not, and never will condone bullying in any shape or form – on or off screen," a spokesperson said.
"As we hope the series has demonstrated so far – Paddy, Freddie and Chris have become great friends who enjoy teasing each other relentlessly during every challenge the producers set them."
Original story: The latest series of Top Gear, fronted by new hosts Freddie Flintoff, Paddy McGuinness and the returning Chris Harris, has got off to a solid start, leaving viewers in hysterics with the trio's car-based shenanigans.
But for some, Freddie went too far in tonight's episode (June 30), causing those watching at home to accuse the former cricketer of bullying his co-host Chris.
During the episode's first challenge, the three presenters were pit against each other to prove who had more storage space in their family car. Naturally, it didn't take long for things to spiral out of control as Freddie preceded to lift Chris and stuff him in the coffin space of Paddy's hearse.
Soon after, Freddie then smashed half a watermelon on Chris's head, which he claimed left him with a cut. While some viewers took the sequence as 'banter', many saw it as bullying.
Sorry but this overstepped the boundary from banter into bullying honestly not funny one iota! #topgear pic.twitter.com/ldH3JKBfxF
- All In The Name Of Emmerdale (@Ishipvanity) June 30, 2019
Has this series of Top Gear moved from ‘banter’ to bullying? Bit weird. #topgear
- can’t think of owt funny (@snorklehorse) June 30, 2019
Sorry constant picking on Chris is embarrassing and on the verge of bullying not funny #topgear
- Michael Dudley (@mikdudley) June 30, 2019
Just Flintoff bullying isn’t it ? #topgear
- Fat Back (@northernfatback) June 30, 2019
#topgear last weeks was good but hoping this bullying of Chris doesn’t carry on , there’s a fine line between banter and bullying surprised at the bbc
- mark (@mwatts106) June 30, 2019
I'm not sure if this is going beyond 'banter' and into bullying #TopGear
- Jamie (@Jamie2090) June 30, 2019
Why does #TopGear inevitably return to bullying Chris Harris?
- (((Neil))) 👁🗨 (@dungeekin) June 30, 2019
That was banter. This is way different. The headbutt last week was disgusting. How long did they leave him locked in the hearse? Harris looked badly shaken. I know bullying when I see it. #TopGear pic.twitter.com/KLKWIraq5V
- Kloppchen (@kloppchen) June 30, 2019
Anyone else get the feeling they are just bullying the non celebrity in #TopGear quite cringe really happened on every episode so far 🤨
- Jason (@JasonBFB) June 30, 2019
Gone off Freddie Flintoff on Top Gear, just a bully now #TopGear
- Stuart Robertson (@robertsonsm) June 30, 2019
Anyone else feel like they bully Chris Harris a bit much? Kind of uncomfortable #TopGear
- Cat (@catmiles) June 30, 2019
Some viewers noted that the bullying of Chris seems to have become a recurring theme in the new series, what with Freddie head-butting Chris and then gleefully electrocuting him during a forfeit in last week's episode.
After having the watermelon smashed on his head, Chris remarked to Freddie: "You are feral. If you were a cat they'd spay you. You should not be allowed to reproduce. You're all kinds of wrong.
"You've picked me up, rag dolled me around, thrown me into a coffin hole and locked me there, and... answer me this, how did you manage to cut my head with a melon?"
Top Gear airs Sundays at 8pm on BBC Two.
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