Amazon may drop Jeremy Clarkson from Grand Tour after controversial comments about Meghan Markle: report

Amazon Prime Video may part ways with The Grand Tour presenter Jeremy Clarkson after the completion of already-ordered seasons in light of his controversial comments about Britain’s royal family member Meghan Markle. According to a new report, Clarkson’s comments in a column published in British tabloid The Sun have caused enough controversy for the streaming giant to reconsider any future plans with the TV presenter. Clarkson is the co-presenter of popular car show The Grand Tour, along with Richard Hammond and James May, and is also part of Clarkson’s Farm, both of which stream on Amazon Prime Video worldwide.

A report from Variety says Amazon Prime Video will not be working with Jeremy Clarkson beyond the seasons and episodes of The Grand Tour and Clarkson’s Farm that have already been ordered.

As of now, The Grand Tour is set to run until at least the end of 2024 for specials already ordered or in production, while Clarkson’s Farm has been ordered for a third season which could also air in 2024. The second season of Clarkson’s Farm is set to premiere on February 10, though the backlash against Clarkson’s comments could take some of the momentum out of any promotional activities Amazon Prime Video may have planned for the show.

The controversial comments were made in December 2022 against British Royal Family member Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, and have been criticized as misogynistic and hateful. Clarkson has publicly apologized for the comments, as well as privately apologized earlier to the Duchess and her husband Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, but it appears the harm has already been done to her career.

Clarkson rose to fame as the host of the BBC’s Top Gear, a long-running car and motoring show, before he was abruptly fired in 2015 over allegations of racial abuse and assault on a show producer. Following this, he and his former Top Gear co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May signed a lucrative deal with Amazon Prime Video, which led to the production of The Grand Tour, considered one of the shows most popular on the platform. With this latest controversy and the consequences that will follow, this long-standing agreement should have a similar end.

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