Chicharito Fires Back At Top Gear Mexican Controversy in Ad

Hosts for popular British car show "Top Gear" made controversial comments about Mexicans last month that eventually led to an apology from parent company, the BBC.

And now Chicharito is weighing in.

Mexican fútbol star Javier "Chicharito" Hernández, a dynamic player for Manchester United in the UK, is speaking out on the Top Gear controversy in a new Powerade ad campaign.

In a show last month, Top Gear hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond called Mexicans "lazy, feckless, flatulent [and] overweight" and, at one point, Hammond remarked: "Just imagine waking up and remembering that you're Mexican."

Chicharito's appears in the ad donning his Manchester United jersey with Spanish text that read, "Yes, imagine waking up and remembering that you're Mexican. Less prejudice. More exercise."

After the controversial comments the Mexican ambassador to the UK got involved.

Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza wrote to the BBC to complain about the series of Mexican stereotypes. Izaca's letter read in part:

"The presenters of the programme resorted to outrageous, vulgar and inexcusable insults to stir bigoted feelings against the Mexican people, their culture, as well as their official representative in the United Kingdom.

These offensive, xenophobic and humiliating remarks only serve to reinforce negative stereotypes and perpetuate prejudice against Mexico and its people.”

The BBC apologized in a statement:

“The Executive Producer for Top Gear has written to the Mexican Ambassador and apologised for the comments made about him during the show. On the broader issue of comments about Mexicans as people, the show has explained they were making comic use of a stereotype; a practice with which regular viewers of Top Gear will be familiar ....

Jokes centred on national stereotyping are a part of Top Gear’s humour, and indeed a robust part of our national humour .... When we do it, we are being rude, yes, and mischievous, but there is no vindictiveness behind the comments.

The British embassy in Mexico City also tried to improve relations by tweeting a reminder.

“300,000 British tourists visit Mexico every year, and come away struck by the Mexican warmth, hospitality and the beauty of this country.”

Those may be among the millions of reasons Chicharito is proud to wake up Mexican.