James May hits back as he's embroiled in 'racism' row after 'dog-whistle' remark to Channel 5 Vine star: 'Not my brother's keeper!'

A "dog-whistle" is the suggestion that a seemingly innocuous remark or comment can carry specific and harmful connotations towards a targeted person or group.

The incident arose after Ms Kaur shared a social media post in which she claimed Britain had "fallen". She claimed that "racism towards immigrants" had become "normalised" and that being abroad only demonstrated this to her further.

"It takes leaving the country to realise how far this country has fallen with racism and hate towards immigrants being so normalised," she began.

"I didn't see flags galore covering any street in India or the Maldives... people just working hard."

Ms Kaur included a video in her post of her walking the streets of the Maldives to accompany her point, and while it caught the attention of her followers, it also piqued the interest of Mr May.

Spotting the chance for a tongue-in-cheek putdown, Mr May replied: "I’m going to the Maldives in a couple of weeks. Have you definitely left?"

The remark quickly garnered plenty of attention, with the reception ranging from social media users applauding Mr May for his putdown, while others claimed it had racist undertones after some weaponised the comments to attack Ms Kaur.

"Racist? Clarkson? Never. Slopes? What are those?" one X user said in response to Mr May's comment, to which he replied: "I’m not Clarkson. I’m the other bloke."

"Don't tell me you're a flag s**gger too, James," another weighed in to the debate, which led Ms Kaur to answer: "I think he was joking..not sure."

Ms Kaur eventually reached out to Mr May directly to offer him the chance to clarify: "It's worrying the racists are really happy with you saying this, James... I'm sure you didn't mean to win them over..."

There’s a bit if that, inevitably. There are also a lot of people who find you annoying. To be frank, I find you quite annoying, and I imagine you feel the same about me.

I also think that if we spent an evening together in the pub, I’d come away quite liking you, and you, me. I… https://t.co/wFUIkomISL

— James May (@MrJamesMay) December 29, 2025

Mr May obliged, setting the record straight on his stance: "There’s a bit (of) that, inevitably. There are also a lot of people who find you annoying.

"To be frank, I find you quite annoying, and I imagine you feel the same about me. I also think that if we spent an evening together in the pub, I’d come away quite liking you, and you, me.

"I doubt we’d agree on much, but I disagree with many of my closest friends. It’s a large part of what makes them my mates. Relax. You massive Wensleydale."

After hearing Mr May's point of view, Ms Kaur graciously responded: "I actually don't find you annoying! I like you and find your tweets to me to be very funny. I actually have a terrific soh [sense of humour].

"I was worried the racists latched onto something you didn't mean in a mean way... that's all. Happy New Year. Perhaps we will have a drink together in 26!"

However, even though Mr May and Ms Kaur appeared to set their differences aside and interact in good faith despite the confusion, some X users weren't satisfied.

I actually don't find you annoying! I like you and find your tweets to me to be very funny.
I actually have a terrific soh!
I was worried the racists latched onto something you didn't mean in a mean way..thats all.
Happy New year
Perhaps we will have a drink together in 26!

— Narinder Kaur (@narindertweets) December 29, 2025

One went further to suggest Mr May had provided a "dog-whistle" for racists and "that is the problem". Mr May dismissed the claim by simply hitting back: "I am not my brother’s keeper."

It's not the first time Mr May and Ms Kaur have come to blows on social media, with the two often sharing back-and-forths over their posts.