Jeremy Clarkson (Credit: the BBC, screenshot)
Jeremy Clarkson apologized again for the assault that got him fired from his job hosting Top Gear on the BBC last year.
The victimized producer, Oisin Tymon, received a financial settlement, which, according to the Guardian, was “understood to be in excess of £100,000.” The BBC reported the same figure for the settlement, noting “both Clarkson and the BBC contributed.”
Clarkson was suspended and then fired last March after what the BBC called a “fracas” with producer Tymon. A BBC investigation determined Tymon was subject to “a physical altercation accompanied by sustained and prolonged verbal abuse of an extreme nature” and called him an “anti-Irish slur” after being informed no hot food was available.
Last November, Tymon filed his lawsuit over Clarkson’s physical and verbal attack and racial discrimination over the anti-Irish comment, as iMediaEthics wrote at the time.
In a statement on his lawyers’ website this week, Tymon’s lawyer, Paul Daniels, confirmed that the lawsuit was “concluded” and said Tymon “greatly appreciates all of the support he has received, including from the BBC. He remains focused on the creative work he loves at the BBC.” Tymon’s lawyer declined to comment further to iMediaEthics about the settlement.
The statement also included an apology from Clarkson reading, in part, “I would like to say sorry, once again, to Oisin Tymon for the incident and its regrettable aftermath. I want to reiterate that none of this was in any way his fault.”
According to the Guardian, “Clarkson has reportedly tried to apologise to Tymon before, and last June he tweeted that he was “so sad and sorry it’s ended like this” after his “last Top Gear show with Hammond and May was aired.”
In a statement e-mailed to iMediaEthics, also published in a BBC news story, the BBC said:
“The action involving Mr Tymon and the BBC has been resolved. Oisin is a valued member of the BBC who behaved with huge integrity in dealing with the very difficult circumstances last year – a situation in which, as [BBC Director-General] Tony Hall has stated, he was completely blameless. We are pleased that matters have now been resolved. Oisin has made an important contribution to the BBC in his 12 years with us, and we hope to see him continue to realise his potential in his role as a Development Executive. We believe Oisin has a very exciting future at the BBC. “
UPDATED: 2/25/2016 10:32 AM EST With comments from the BBC and response from Tymon’s lawyer
