…By Alan Peterson for TDPel Media.
Jeremy Clarkson has expressed his puzzlement and disapproval towards the criticism directed at Phillip Schofield regarding his secret affair with a younger male colleague.
Writing in The Sunday Times, Clarkson admitted to having no personal connection to Schofield but commented on the outrage surrounding the situation.
Perplexity over Outrage and Double Standards
Clarkson highlighted the inconsistency in public reactions, stating, “He maintains that his lover was over the age of consent when their relationship became physical, but that hasn’t silenced the howls of disgust.”
He found it peculiar that society often overlooks significant age differences in heterosexual relationships but seems to condemn Schofield’s affair.
Unprecedented “Witch Hunt” and Unjust Consequences
Clarkson expressed his astonishment at the level of public scrutiny Schofield has faced, stating, “I’ve never seen a ‘witch hunt’ like it.”
He criticized the public demand for anyone associated with Schofield to be dismissed and subjected to televised committees, emphasizing that no crime had been committed.
Clarkson defended Schofield’s self-identification as gay, asserting that this should not be grounds for condemnation.
Examination of Duty of Care and Network Responsibility
Clarkson anticipated that discussions surrounding duty of care and the alleged disregard for cries for help on the set of This Morning would dominate public discourse.
He stated that he doubted ITV’s chief executive and director of television would have been aware of the affair.
Homophobia Allegations and Disparity in Reactions
LGBT rights campaigner Peter Tatchell weighed in on the matter, suggesting that the outrage against Schofield had a hint of homophobia.
Tatchell compared the negative portrayal of Schofield’s relationship to the more lenient responses toward high-profile heterosexual relationships with significant age differences.
Schofield’s Account and the Consensual Nature of the Affair
Schofield, in an interview with The Sun, disclosed that he had met his former lover when the individual was 15 and he was in his mid-50s.
However, he clarified that the affair only began after the man started working at ITV and that it was consensual.