Richard Hammond sparks further backlash as he defends saying that only gay men eat ice cream
Last year, Richard Hammond sparked backlash when he joked that only gay men eat ice cream during an episode of his TV show The Grand Tour.
The presenter came under fire when he told co-hosts Jeremy Clarkson and James May that the reason he doesn’t eat ice cream is “something to do with being straight”.
![Richard Hammond has triggered further backlash. Copyright: [Rex]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/bn4FYzgPsvDtYMv6bvBkyA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/60a2d20f8b02363ddc9e15e67406b263)
When Jeremy asked whether he was suggesting that “all children are homosexual”, Richard continued: “No. There’s nothing wrong with it but, you know – a grown man eating an ice cream is a bit… It’s that way rather than that way.”
Now Richard has defended the quip in a new interview, insisting that he is not homophobic.
Speaking to The Times, Richard said: “Look, anyone who knows me knows I wasn’t being serious, that I’m not homophobic. Love is love, whatever the sex of the two people in love.
![Richard insists that he isn’t homophobic. Copyright: [PA]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/8cMYw.m7xT9HQxqHkwcm1Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTQ4MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/f3ce216a603439b4dbb6f9e1b8bab8f3)
“It may be because I live in a hideously safe and contained middle-class world, where a person’s sexuality is not an issue.
“But when I hear of people in the media coming out, I think, why do they even feel the need to mention it?
“It is so old-fashioned to make a big deal of it; that isn’t even an interesting thing to say at a dinner party any more.”
hello & here's the full richard hammond 'ice creams are gay' piece and yeah, it's awful pic.twitter.com/JhDisRsc1Q
— the ollie and the ivy (@ProducerOllie) December 26, 2016
Stars such as singer Olly Alexander were among the people to call Richard out on his problematic comment, with the clip going viral on social media at the time.
Now Twitter users have been left even more unimpressed by Richard’s defence, once again taking to the microblogging site to slam the 47-year-old star:
Honestly to sum it up #RichardHammond is just a wilfully ignorant man who frankly annoys me to no end. There’s something about him, he’s infuriating. Stick to speeding around in cars sir & leave the intelligent conversation to the rest of us.
— Sarah_Scarah (@LoganLebeau) December 4, 2017
I think the real question is why does Richard Hammond feel the need to comment on some thing he clearly knows nothing about?
— Matt May (@theemattmay) December 4, 2017
Why are some people surprised by Richard Hammond’s comments about being gay?
He definitely should be held accountable – but have you ever seen his TV show? Basically middle aged, privileged men swimming in toxic masculinity. Sooo… it really shouldn’t be surprising.
— Elias Jahshan (@Elias_Jahshan) December 4, 2017
Actually so many people I know are in the process of coming out, or are just too scared to, and people like @RichardHammond need to shut up, because the potential damage they can inflict is enormous. This has riled me.
— Samuel McKay (@mckay_ss) December 4, 2017
Yahoo Celeb UK have contacted Richard’s reps for comment.
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