James May Faces Backlash Over Pride Month Social Media Post
James May, former host of Top Gear and The Grand Tour, faced significant backlash after a social media post about Pride flags during Pride Month. On Thursday, May posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, expressing concern over what he termed "Too Much Bunting" (TMB), referencing the prevalence of Pride flags in central London. He drew a parallel between TMB and historical authoritarianism, mentioning World War II.
The post, which quickly went viral with 2.7 million views, drew criticism from various quarters of the LGBTQ+ community. Some interpreted May's comments as comparing Pride flags to Nazi symbolism, sparking outrage. May responded to several comments, clarifying that he was not equating Pride with Nazi ideology and urging people to read their posts carefully for clarity.
In a follow-up post, May reiterated his stance, denying any comparison between the Pride movement and Nazis and emphasizing his intention was not to foster homophobia. He acknowledged that other events also exhibit TMB and emphasized the need for clear communication.
This is not the first controversy involving May and his co-hosts Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond. In 2019, the trio faced accusations of homophobia from singer Will Young over remarks made about a Jeep Wrangler in an episode of The Grand Tour.
May and Hammond have both denied making homophobic jokes, with May asserting their intention is to include everyone in their humor equally without seeking to offend or alienate.
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