The BBC has apologised to Mexico's ambassador for remarks on its Top Gear programme that described Mexicans as lazy and oafish.
The BBC wrote to Ambassador Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza on Thursday, saying that national stereotyping is part of British humour — and that the presenters did not intend to be vindictive.
"We are sorry if we have offended some people, but jokes centred on national stereotyping are a part of Top Gear's humour."
The remarks came in a segment in which presenter Richard Hammond claimed that cars imitate national characteristics. "Mexican cars are just going to be a lazy, feckless, flatulent, oaf with a moustache leaning against a fence asleep looking at a cactus with a blanket with a hole in the middle on as a coat," he said.
The ambassador in turn, wrote to the BBC earlier this week, complaining about the "bigotry and ignorance", of the presenters.