'Disrespectful pig' Argentinians celebrate Jeremy Clarkson sacking after Falklands row
PEOPLE in Argentina have been celebrating following the news of Jeremy Clarkson's sacking by the BBC, after the presenter sparked controversy with a 'Falkland Islands' number plate last year.
Clarkson caused controversy in Argentina with a number plate locals thought referenced the Falklands
The 54-year-old Top Gear host was yesterday told his contract would not be renewed by the BBC following an "unprovoked physical attack" on producer Oisin Tymon that lasted 30 seconds.
Argentinians have since greeted the news of Clarkson's effective sacking with joy, following the row sparked by a special episode of the motoring show last October.
While filming in the South American country, Clarkson drove a vehicle sporting a number plate that was claimed to be a reference to the Falklands War.
Locals pelted the cars of Top Gear cast and crew members with stones after they felt Clarkson's 'H982 FKL' licence was a nod to the bloody conflict.
The war, which took place between British and Argentine forces in 1982, left 649 soldiers from Argentina dead and killed 255 of their UK counterparts.
Argentines pelted the cars of Top Gear cast and crew members
[Jeremy Clarkson] deserved it, he's an imbecile
Many in Argentina today celebrated Clarkson's sacking by the BBC in comments left on newspaper articles online.
One described him as "a disrespectful pig" and recommended he should be sent to North Korea for what he had done.
Fernando Sanchez Campos described Clarkson as a "lout" in the comments section for Argentina's financial newspaper Dinero en Imagen.
He said: "It had to happen, you cannot walk through life feeling that the world owes you adoration and glory.
"Jeremy is very good on his show, but he is also a lout that feels superior to the rest of us."
Argentines thought Clarkson's number plate referenced the Falklands War
Another Argentine on the website of the RT newspaper said nothing would be lost with Clarkson's departure from the show.
The user wrote: "Excellent decision. They should send that disrespectful pig to North Korea for some 10 years in a re-education camp."
In the comments accompanying an article published in La Voz, one Argentinian simply said: "Karma."
And in a comment on an article in Clarin, Hugo Sanchez added: "He deserved it, he's an imbecile."
Jeremy Clarkson was sacked after a fracas with Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon
Scenes of local outrage sparked by Clarkson's numberplate were shown in the Top Gear Patagonia special, which aired last Christmas.
In the two-part instalment of the BBC Two motoring show, locals angered by the numberplate threw rocks at the Top Gear crew's vehicles.
They chased the cast and crew to the Argentina border while their cars, including the Porsche with the offending number plate, were left abandoned by a roadside.
The BBC and Clarkson said the numberplate was purely a coincidence and it was not intended to reference the Falklands War.
However, the Argentine ambassador to the UK, Alicia Castro, demanded the BBC apologise for the incident - which they refused to do.