Jeremy Clarkson Says Greta Thunberg Is A 'Spoilt Brat' Who Should 'Shut Up'

In the past week, the amount of people who have heard of Greta Thunberg has increased massively.

That's because the 16-year-old Swede made an address at the United Nations Climate Summit, during which she admonished world leaders for 'stealing my dreams' by not taking decisive action to tackle climate change.

PA

The impassioned speech earned the teen many admirers - but evidently (and unsurprisingly) Jeremy Clarkson isn't one of them.

The 59-year-old presenter and petrol-head has described the young activist as a 'spoilt brat' and has advised that she go back to school - rather than continue to raise awareness about an issue that threatens all life on earth.

In a column for The Sun, he said: "How dare we? No. How dare you sail to America on a carbon fibre yacht that you didn't build which cost £15 million, that you didn't earn, and which has a back-up diesel engine that you didn't mention."

Clarkson then lists loads of things grown ups have sorted out that she should be grateful for - such as medicine, clean water, food and comedy.

"And then pause for a moment to consider how soundly you sleep at night, knowing that adults are building and servicing and flying Sweden's fighter planes. To keep you safe.

"We gave you mobile phones and laptops and the internet. We created the social media you use every day and we run the banks that pay for it all.

"So how dare you stand there and lecture us, you spoilt brat."

PA

Satisfied that he has listed enough good things that grown ups have done, Clarkson then agrees with Thunberg's actual point about climate change, claiming that 'there is no doubt that as deserts eat into currently habitable places in Africa and the Middle East, Europe will face an unimaginable refugee crisis'.

However, Clarkson concludes that the best way for Thunberg to help with the problem would be for her to 'shut up' and leave it to the grown ups.

He said: "Something needs to be done about that. So how's this for an idea. Get back to school as quickly as possible and work hard in your science lectures. Because science is what will solve the problem eventually. Not scowling and having screaming ab-dabs every five minutes.

"Many thousands of people who you had the temerity to blame this week are trying to do exactly what you want.

"So be a good girl, shut up and let them get on with it."

Seemingly though Clarkson's own daughter doesn't agree with him.

Referring to a tweet by comedian John Bishop, in which he described Thunberg as an inspirational person, Emily Clarkson wrote: "Wouldn't it be nice if all middle aged blokes could talk to and about Greta, the ballsy af teenager out there changing the world, like this."

Topics: UK News, climate change, Celebrity

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey