Former "Top Gear" host Jeremy Clarkson and the BBC are being sued for racial discrimination and personal injury over an altercation with a producer that took place earlier this year and ultimately led to the end of Clarkson's employment with the broadcasting corporation, according to CNN.
"Top Gear" producer Oisin Tymon is seeking compensation in excess of £100,000 ($152,320) after he was physically and verbally attacked by Clarkson in March this year. The incident prompted an internal inquiry, after which the former presenter was dropped by the BBC, as HNGN previously reported.
Tymon, who has been on leave since the altercation, is accusing the BBC and Clarkson for racial discrimination and personal injury suffered during the incident. Tymon claims that Clarkson allegedly mouthed an anti-Irish slur before splitting his lip.
Lawyers from Slater and Gordon, the firm representing Tymon, as well as the BBC and Clarkson's attorneys, attended a closed-door hearing at the Central London Employment Tribunal on Friday.
"We will be responding to this claim but will not be commenting further at this time," said a BBC spokesman, according to BBC News.
Clarkson, who has moved to Amazon following his departure from the BBC, has been accused of being racist in the past. He was captured on video in 2012 uttering the n-word while singing "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe," for which he apologized later.
