'The Grand Tour' co-host Richard Hammond criticised for linking eating ice cream with being gay

"The Grand Tour" co-host Richard Hammond has been lambasted by some viewers of the motoring show after he suggested he did not eat ice cream because he was not gay, The Guardian first reported.

His comments were made in front of a live studio audience in the "Happy Finnish Christmas" episode of the show, which first broadcast on Amazon Prime on December 23. 

Co-host Jeremy Clarkson gestured towards a photo of the light-coloured interior of a Rolls Royce, joking that you would not be able to enjoy a Magnum ice cream inside.

Hammond responded: "It's all right, I don't eat ice cream. It's something to do with being straight."

Clarkson and the show's other co-host James May wrinkled their noses in apparent disgust as the audience laughed and clapped.

Clarkson, who also has a history of making controversial and insensitive comments, said: "Why are you applauding him? What do you mean? Are you saying everyone who likes ice cream ... you're saying all children are homosexual?"

Hammond retorted that "ice cream is a bit, you know," before adding: "There's nothing wrong with it, but a grown man eating an ice cream, you know, it's a bit, it's that way rather than that way, it is ..."

Clarkson cut him off by looking down the camera lens and declaring: "Welcome to the inside of Richard Hammond's head."

Hammond continued: "I'm right. I can't believe you can't see that. It's easy, it's in front of you."

Clarkson then appeared to try to revert the conversation back to the car: "You could enjoy a 99 in there," he said, referring to the ice cream cone.

May then cut in: "You mean a 69?"

Clarkson responded: "99. But you couldn't have the chocolate thingy," and gestured at the chocolate flake that is usually inserted atop a 99 ice cream.

"My case rests!" Hammond declared triumphantly.

The exchange was strongly criticised and parodied by Twitter users:

Richard Hammond's representatives and Amazon were not immediately available for comment.

Amazon is rumoured to have paid about $250 million for "The Grand Tour," which stars the trio of former "Top Gear" presenters. The company said the show's debut episode in November this year marked the biggest premiere ever on Amazon Prime Video, although it declined to share specific numbers.

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