The Mirror, a British tabloid, posted an unused clip from Season 19, Episode 6 of Top Gear, in which Jeremy Clarkson mutters something that the newspaper interprets to be the N-word. The incident occurs as the outspoken 54-year-old host recites a familiar nursery rhyme in order to choose between Toyota and Subaru's rear-drive coupe twins, the GT86 and BRZ. Here's the video:

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The video promptly exploded across social media, where many users expressed a desire to see Clarkson, whose political incorrectness is part of his public persona, fired over the incident.

Clarkson immediately and flatly denied using the slur.

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I did not use the n word. Never use it. The Mirror has gone way too far this time. — Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) May 1, 2014

Today, he released a video response to the allegations, apologizing and explaining that he personally requested that segment never air because after seeing the footage, he realized it sounded like he did use the N-word, despite efforts (by mumbling and changing words around) not to. Here is his statement in its entirety:

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James May and Richard Hammond both took to Twitter to express support for their Top Gear colleague:

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Jeremy Clarkson is not a racist. He is a monumental bellend and many other things, but not a racist. I wouldn't work with one. #ThatIsAll — James May (@MrJamesMay) May 1, 2014

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I 2nd May's comment re Clarkson. I can list a million things wrong with him, but he is absolutely not racist. An idiot, yes. — Richard Hammond (@RichardHammond) May 1, 2014

Those who dislike Clarkson already will continue to do so and may liken this to the Donald Sterling scandal currently rocking the NBA. But where the Sterling tapes left no doubt as to the horrifying nature of his comments, after several listens, our consensus is that the Clarkson tape is inconclusive at best, and that The Mirror probably has a big legal fight on its hands.

Whether the BBC plans to take any action in response to the allegations remains to be seen. The story is very much ongoing.

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