They interviewed some fellow tv personalities yesterday and as Paul Merton quite rightly said Clarkson should never have even gone there. it`s as simple as that.
Yes the race argument will be played out..................... did clarkson mean to be racist ?.......... I doubt he considered it at the time.......... did clarkson make a bad error of judgement, then yes he did.
Should that cost him his job, in simple terms no, as the footage was not used in the show and if it had not been leaked no one would have known. Proving really that he did not want it known as he realised how bad it could look so he is aware of its impact.
Many tv stars use swear words that would cost them their jobs on live tv but end up on the outakes VT which then becomes acceptable.
You could ague that the person who leaked it has caused the issue and therefore are guilty of inciting racist behaviour.
Should he be sacked............It just depends on whether the BBC make the decision based on the fact they feel they have to do something to show their disgust which again is really about saving themselves and people saying they are guilty by association so its a case of damage limitation for the Beeb.
Its become a race row and really it should be an error of judgement row............. If the BBC sack him another channel will take him and so it goes on....
Perhaps his lack of judgement this time will be his demise, but it won`t be for the reasons of right and wrong, it will as usual, be for commercial reasons.