Argentina Demands Apology From BBC Over 'Top Gear' Host

Oct 21, 2014 05:00 PM EDT | Matt Mercuro

Argentina's ambassador in London has made a formal complaint to the BBC, accusing Jeremy Clarkson, the host of the popular TV show "Top Gear," of insulting and provocative behavior during the filming of an episode Argentina.

Alicia Castro visited the BBC's offices in person on Monday claiming that Clarkson evoked memories of the 1982 Falklands war during filming, according to Reuters. He then made "insulting remarks" about the Argentine government and people.

Diplomatic relations between Argentina and Britain haven't been good since the war over the sovereignty of the remote islands, 300 miles off the Argentine coast, which is now referred to as the Falklands and the Malvinas.

The Argentine embassy said Castro had called for the BBC to apologize for "Clarkson's provocative behavior and offensive remarks towards the government and the Argentine people," according to a statement released by the embassy.

The BBC's Director of Television Danny Cohen was presented with a dossier of letters from British citizens, lawmakers and celebrities during the meeting with Castro, which condemned Clarkson's behavior.

The BBC said it had received a complaint and would apply its standard processes.

Clarkson made headlines just a few weeks ago for his vivid accounts of an incident in which he said an angry mob objected to the registration number of a car he was driving through Argentina during filming.

The number plate "H982 FKL" was seen as a reference to the year and location of the war in which over 900 people died. Both Clarkson and the BBC said the vehicle number was just a coincidence, according to Reuters.

Clarkson was quoted saying hundreds of protesters had thrown bricks and rocks at his car. He said it was "the most terrifying thing I've ever been involved in," and that officials had thrown him out of the country for political reasons.

Guinness World Records has recognized Top Gear as the most-watched factual show of all time, with episodes broadcast in more than 200 countries and territories, according to Reuters.

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