[Sun column] Jeremy Clarkson: “Firms don't have to hire woke idiots… my c-word test would root them out”
Posted by FlipStig1@reddit | thegrandtour | View on Reddit | 115 comments
Jeremy Clarkson used the main part of his Sun column to focus on people who are easily offended (and these people do exist!). However, he had an brainwave inspired by the genius of his ex-wife on how to deal with them. Here’s a preview:
“Here’s how it worked. After being introduced to someone, she would use the c-word as soon as possible. If they looked shocked she knew they could never be friends and she would go and find someone else to talk to.
“That’s what you do in an interview. Drop the c-bomb and if the jobseeker is unbothered, they start on Monday. If they start weeping, tell them to go and get a job where lily-livered halfwits are welcome.”
(Usual disclaimers apply for his Sun columns.)
67SuperReverb@reddit
The anti-woke rhetoric is just getting to be boomer cringe at this point.
People are just like, trying to get jobs and existing.
mauceri@reddit
Yeah except the UK has higher incarceration rates for Facebook posts than even the worst backwater authoritarian regimes. Woke may be a loose concept in America, but in places like the UK it's a cultural revolution.
HuckleberryDry2673@reddit
Look, an American attempting to think! But it doesn't appear to be working!
mauceri@reddit
The data says otherwise.
grubas@reddit
Not everybody likes to swear and some of us try to remain professional for the most part.
I rarely swear in front of my boss, who is ancient. My people, who are 10 years younger than me, don't really hear it either.
Also using that in America is asking for HR.
GreenHeel97@reddit
The transatlantic divide here is fascinating, too, because in my experience, older folks in the US are much less likely to be ok with swearing in the least, nevermind in the workplace. If I'm reading this comment correctly, you're saying your boss would probably be more ok with it than your people?
No_Street8874@reddit
No, old folks swear a lot in the U.S. but you don’t do it at work
kh250b1@reddit
There ya go. You took him seriously. Its a character he plays and not necessarily what he actually thinks
Gidnik@reddit
He’s not saying anything about they shouldn’t work of find work just that they should find a place to match their own personality.
I run a business with a very I’ll say rambunctious crew. We loved each other and told each other to fuck off several times a day.
What good would I do myself, my crew or the new hire if I hired them in and found out they were offended by swear words. Who does that benefit.
Guardsred70@reddit
No kidding. A huge part of success in life is not being offended. Clarkson makes it seem like it’s only younger people, but I know plenty of Boomers who have lived a worse life because they go around being offended all the damn time. And it doesn’t just hurt them. It hurts their kids. It hurts their friends.
Being offended is a losing way to live.
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
[removed]
thegrandtour-ModTeam@reddit
No hate
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
[removed]
thegrandtour-ModTeam@reddit
No hate
MightyHead@reddit
I swear at work and have banter with my colleagues all the time. If we had a new hire who was offended by swearing, it wouldn't exactly be difficult for me to tone it down around them. It wouldn't bother me in the slightest as long as they were good at their job (which is more than I can say about half of my colleagues).
DRHAX34@reddit
I'm woke and could care less about swear words, lol. I use them all the time even with work friends
christo08@reddit
You realize most “woke” people also joke around and take the piss out of each other?
victorpaparomeo2020@reddit
I’m woke as fuck. As woke as you can get really.
And I have no problem saying this. Clarkson is a cunt. A funny cunt. But a cunt none the less.
blaghed@reddit
Wait, that's the "c-word"?
TheLastGenXer@reddit
cancer. or cunt.
and in some cases cuntcancer
blaghed@reddit
I honestly thought he meant making jokes about cancer to try and trigger people.
If it's just saying "cunt" and seeing who grabs their pearls, then... that's super meek...
Anandya@reddit
The C-Word in my house is Cilantro. It's Coriander
SkipsH@reddit
He's a cunt that far too many people listen to and take seriously.
MightyHead@reddit
Same, and funnily enough, my anti-woke parents would be uncomfortable around people saying cunt. The whole thing has turned into a bit of a delusion to be honest.
_Saikai_@reddit
Same. I'm woke as hell and yet I have no qualms about calling Clarkson a cunt.
He's entertaining and funny, that's why I'm a fan of his. But seeing how he acts outside of the camera and he's a raging cunt yeah lmao.
Evening-Ad5765@reddit
Woke people calling folks boomers is cringe too
Onemoretime536@reddit
I don't think you would get the job
67SuperReverb@reddit
I worked in a psych hospital I can hear bad words at work
flyingforfun3@reddit
Honestly, he made his money. He doesn’t care. He says this stuff to strike a nerve and get attention. It’s who he has always been. It made him entertaining, and sometimes cringey.
I loved Top Gear and the Grand Tour. But I can see how an elderly beer bellied Brit, isn’t the most progressive thinker. It’s okay. It’s not going to change if I watch shows that I find entertaining.
Glittering_Hope1114@reddit
The entire of British newsmedia spends its time complaining about wokness, easily offended and transgender people daily. They have done this for a decade straight while also complaining that they are not allowed to say these things and being silenced. They say this daily in the newspapers and on the seemingly endless platforms they have. Thank God we have people who aren't always offended snowflakes silly stuff. Such as piers Morgan who directs his anger at important stuff like Mr potato head no longer being masculine enough for his liking.
Energycatz@reddit
If you read about him & Wilman at school or at the BBC, you get the sense that he enjoys the “rebellious schoolboy” act.
Zeraora807@reddit
I'd pass his "test" easily but the thing he's missing is, in a professional environment, if a superior just came down and said 'sup cunt', it doesn't hit the same as it would if we'd been working there for 5 years already.
How would we know what the boundaries are...
drewbreeezy@reddit
It's not like normal people go "Oh, we can say cunt, that means sexual assault is okay!" lol
Dawnspark@reddit
Yeah, like, I work at a library. It's a very different environment from my previous jobs (being a chef and bartending,) and hearing anyone there swear in general is unexpected and would probably shock me, even though I have no issue with swearing in general.
Hell, even when I worked in an open kitchen, it was different vs. normal back of house shit. Had to behave politely in front of the guests lol.
Different environments, different expected levels of professionalism.
Phill_McKrakken@reddit
Sounds like you failed
Say10sadvocate@reddit
I'm about as far left as you get, like a seize the means and eat the rich left.
If an interviewer dropped the c bomb I'd love it. It's one of my favourite words. 🤷🏽♂️
DemonikJD@reddit
These people really do go round fighting invisible demons don’t they lol
The irony that for the better part of a decade these types all calling out the “easily offended” but finding it effortless to have yet another thing they themselves are offended by. There’s alwaysssss something.
FlipStig1@reddit (OP)
Clarkson also had this brief comment regarding the skills of Formula One drivers:
“SOME are saying that thanks to the new regulations, Formula One drivers have too many buttons on their steering wheels and too much to do when they’re in the race.
“To which I say, ‘Pah’. They should try driving a tractor.”
Kinggrunio@reddit
Insert Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso here.
GenericAlcoholic@reddit
I’d pay good money to see Clarkson try to navigate his tractors buttons while doing ~250 kph.
grubas@reddit
He can't even do it at nought.
SheevShady@reddit
I’ve seen enough. His punishment will be completing a full race with no breaks in an Aston
inheritor@reddit
Gentlemen, a short view back to the past.
BobDobbsHobNobs@reddit
Gentlemen, a short view back to the past. Thirty years ago, farmers had three tools: a tractor, a dog, and a vague understanding of the weather. Today, you have satellite guidance, apps telling you when your soil feels emotional, and a man from television trying to grow wasabi.
Question for you both: is tractoring today too complicated with twenty and more buttons on the wheel, are you too much under effort, under pressure? What are your wishes for the future concerning the technical programme during the planting season? Less buttons, more? Or less and more communication with Charlie?
Capt_Reynolds@reddit
Can you repeat the question?
theshoutingman@reddit
Perfection. This deserves to be a new copypasta.
captainmouse86@reddit
Where’s the comment about the skills of a F1 driver?
kolology@reddit
Seeing Clarkson write about “societal issues” is kinda like seeing two monkeys fight in a zoo. You know it’s meaningless. You know it’s useless. But it’s monkeys fighting, so of course you’re going to watch it.
Piggstein@reddit
God bless him and his outrageous politically incorrect opinions he has every week to a deadline.
Mysterious_Concern_3@reddit
Great reference
Hill_Reps_For_Jesus@reddit
This honestly feels like he’s re-used an article from about 20 years ago, when the main thing people were ‘offended’ by was vulgarity. I’d have thought that 2026 Clarkson would be complaining that he can’t call people gay retards anymore or something. This approach will end up with him surrounded by woke people who don’t mind swearing (which is infinitely preferable to the reverse in fairness).
Understateable@reddit
Best way I’ve seen Clarkson’s opinions described 🤣
WorriedHelicopter764@reddit
I’m pretty woke if by woke you mean left wing and I love the c word it’s in my daily vocabulary
Azalea_Field@reddit
Sounds like he has the world’s tiniest penis and is in fact a bigger snowflake than the ‘lily-livered halfwits’ to me
BulldenChoppahYus@reddit
He also once said he’d have striking workers shot in front of their families so I think you don’t have to listen to him anymore.
VivaLaVita555@reddit
As a Scot that word is built into standard vocabulary and would faze noone
Zaku99@reddit
I work in culinary. The "c-word" is the least of my concern. And yes, I have gay friends. Clarkson underestimates people.
Best-Treacle-9880@reddit
I don't think he's bothered whether someone's gay or not, just if they are fragile and righteous. Culinary industry effectively does this already I suppose
Zaku99@reddit
My point was I'm a "blue haired freak" or somesuch because I'm not a hard-core conservative. Clarkson is a funny guy, but I don't always agree with him politically.
More-Masterpiece-561@reddit
I feel Jeremy is the type of person who doesn't give a shit about who someone is or what they're doing unless it affects him. And he doesn't want to be bothered by learning about things like how many genders there are (just an example). It's like he wouldn't have a bad heart but he would not want to put in the effort to be politically correct
I mean he does whip out a hammer anytime he does not understand how to fix things.
Typical_Rip_1818@reddit
This is the nuace I think we're losing these days, separating the art from the artist
ballsosteele@reddit
It seems Americans are the ones afraid of the word "cunt".
Warm_Long_3669@reddit
I'm an American, and I use the "Cunt" word once and a while. Mostly now to describe our current president.
More-Masterpiece-561@reddit
That fookin cunt is the reason petrol and cooking gas is going expensive. He needs a stronger word
Colborne91@reddit
Once in a while btw, once and a while makes no sense, hopefully autocorrect but you can never be sure with Americans eg “I could care less”
Warm_Long_3669@reddit
Touched a nerve? Sounds like you are one of the "Woke Idiots" Clarkson was writing about in the article. Also for you information may of us good "Americans" do give a shit! So Bugger off!
Colborne91@reddit
No was just making sure you knew the actual correct usage. I’ve never seen anyone say “once in a while” so hopefully it was a mistake…
No_Street8874@reddit
Yeah, different cultures have different cultures.
Phill_McKrakken@reddit
You haven’t met any of the chronically offended Scot’s then. They’re about I’m afraid.
SoyMurcielago@reddit
Maybe the c word in mind was “CLARKSON!!!”
TapirGumption@reddit
Teehee naughty word 🤭
No_Street8874@reddit
😂 good ol clarkson. Dumb as a rock, his mom was a drug whore, but he can still make folks chuckle.
thegrandtour-ModTeam@reddit
No hate
Lextube@reddit
This is such edgy teenage boy level shit
qoo_kumba@reddit
I think Jeremy thinks the c word is capitalism and that he's an edgy cunt for using it in his column.
QuickZookeepergame93@reddit
I swear like a sailor when I’m with my friends would never do that at work though
404Notfound-@reddit
Honestly I get into the habit of trying not to swear at my desk because you could easily slip a swear word in when chatting to a customer accidentally. It's the same with jokes, half of the stuff I'd joke with mates I'd not repeat in the office it's just about being professional, nothing to do with being woke imo
OrangeDit@reddit
Clarkson is really starting to annoy me.
eiffeloberon@reddit
Woke up
OrangeDit@reddit
Yes, I am woke. I am aware that racism, sexism, inequalities, etc exist. Interesting for you to bring it up for no reason.
JoeSicko@reddit
Blaming it on the woke is so 2020. They really need a new schtick.
I-LOVE-TURTLES666@reddit
Oh yeah brah? That’s your defense?
thegrandtour-ModTeam@reddit
No hate
OrangeDit@reddit
Exactly.
jz05@reddit
Found one
QuirkyAndEccentric@reddit
Point made i suppose?
Beef___Queef@reddit
Such a dumb, boring take.
I’m not sure Jeremy’s got a good idea of woke is anymore, presumably anyone he doesn’t like?
Like, the only people who care about swearing are very much in the boomer category these days, so…
Far-Obligation4055@reddit
That is pretty much the definition of woke for everybody who complains about it, so he isn't special in that regard.
MrPejorative@reddit
My issue with swearing is I just want to know if the person can think before they speak. If you think very carefully and deeply and still call me a cunt, that's fine and probably accurate.
On the other hand if it sounds like you have a speech impediment or constantly throwing a tantrum, then you're probably not worth listening to.
AllTheBaka@reddit
I think it’s funny how a critically offended man spouts nonsense like this
wiyixu@reddit
All the while using the “c-word” instead of typing cunt. It’s almost like there’s a time and place and a job interview or a column in a newspaper is neither.
AlfredLuan@reddit
He clearly doesnt understand what woke means
Hexatrix@reddit
"people who are easily offended" and he was frothing at the mouth over people making jokes about the queen dying
masterjarjar19@reddit
Ironic that he then censors the word in this article. So what's the c-word? Cunt? Cancer? Cholera? Clarkson?
Wd91@reddit
The editors will censor it. Naturally he doesn't have the balls to call out the people paying him fat wads of cash, only imaginary millennial snowflakes.
Ray1340@reddit
I understand what he means, I disagree with using woke. There are idiots everywhere.
funnytoenail@reddit
Honestly, I vote on the left side of Leon Trotsky (Jeremy Clarkson jokes here) and while I don’t use the C word often, it’s not gonna make me blink twice 😅
FlipStig1@reddit (OP)
By he way, he also mentioned his colleague, Richard Hammond, in a different section of his column:
“RESIDENTS in the pretty Welsh town of Abergavenny said this week that after Richard Hammond bought a house in the area, they were ‘fearful’ that I’d do the same thing.
“Well relax, boyos, because why would I want to live near Richard Hammond? The roads are dangerous enough as it is without having to worry about him coming round the corner, on fire and on his roof.”
It_is_not_me_@reddit
Thanks for letting me know to watch out for Hammond when I'm talking my kids to school!
Iamjimmym@reddit
And on that bombshell... back to the studio
UsidoreTheLightBlue@reddit
Plus think of how hard it is to find a good pair of scissors when all the scissors in town are being used to cut Hammond out of his clothes every night?
weirdbutinagoodway@reddit
He has a good point.
squeakybeak@reddit
65 year old man is so edgy.
FastnBulbous81@reddit
Clarkson should be tested every day with the T word (tax).
Motor-Acadia6676@reddit
What a tiresome boring old cunt.
BrooklynNets@reddit
I'm exactly the kind of wokety-woke ultra-progressive type these doofus boomers hate, and I probably used the word "cunt" half a dozen times today. Turns out that we're offended by hateful ideas and not naughty words.
descendingangel87@reddit
Yeah this doesn't quite work because if you called his wife the c word he would probably melt down because as a boomer he is the most offended generation, in the world.
kolology@reddit
It’s fine to talk down to people as long as they’re noticeably younger than you. It’s once you can relate to them when it becomes a problem.
ButtholeSurfur@reddit
I've noticed the closer I get to 40 a lot of these boomers realize we aren't in high school anymore lol.
Like bruh I own a house and have 2 children, one who will be 8 soon. I am not a kid anymore.
NineNinety4@reddit
Mm yes something something woke. Are we in 2016? This shit is so ball achingly dull
_FLostInParadise_@reddit
A take completely devoid of any concept of what context means.
cmgww@reddit
I know it’s the whole “the younger generation is too easily offended” and I do find it to be somewhat true, in certain cases. But it’s a blanket generalization. And not true for all of them. I know plenty of 20 somethings who work in the trades and say stuff that would immediately get them fired or sent to HR in a white collar office type job.
That said, also….the “c word” carries a much harsher connotation here in the US than it does in Great Britain/Scotland/etc….it’s definitely more offensive to anyone here than it is over there. I remember when I went to London years ago and was amazed how often c**t gets thrown around as a casual insult
awkisopen@reddit
What are the usual disclaimers? It's not very helpful to just say "usual disclaimers apply" if there's no way for me to find out what they are.
I-LOVE-TURTLES666@reddit
Oh old man….
Rush_nj@reddit
Clarkson trying to hire the whole of Australia confirmed.