James May, former "Top Gear" presenter, has expressed criticism towards Pride organisers over the abundance of flags displayed across British cities, particularly in Regent Street, London. As June marks LGBT Pride Month, an event celebrating the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, May shared his views on social media, suggesting that the extensive use of Pride flags could be perceived as "authoritarian" and "oppressive."
May, 61, referred to the situation as "borderline guilty" of Too Much Bunting (TMB) and mentioned historical contexts, stating that "World War Two started with too much bunting." His post included a photograph of Pride flag bunting, though it is unclear whether it was from the current year's celebrations.
The social media post sparked mixed reactions. Some users agreed with May, advocating for a less overwhelming display of decorations. Others criticized his remarks, with some alleging his comments were offensive or confusing, particularly his reference to World War Two.
In response to criticism, May clarified that he was not comparing the LGBT community to Nazis, emphasizing that his comments were solely about the quantity of decorations. The Pride flag, initially created by American artist and gay rights activist Gilbert Baker in 1978, has since evolved into various designs to inclusively represent different segments of the LGBT community, including the 'Progress' variation by artist Daniel Quasar.