Top Gear

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry calling BS over a British newspaper's attempt to make peace after one of their writers penned a scathing takedown of the Duchess ... one that got so much backlash, they actually had to yank the thing entirely.

We're talking about Jeremy Clarkson's column in The Sun from a couple weeks ago, in which he suggested MM was deserving of a public flogging of sorts ... saying he dreamed of her being stripped down and shamed in the most graphic of terms.

The paragraph that drew the most outrage read, "Meghan, though, is a different story. I hate her. Not like I hate Nicola Sturgeon or Rose West. I hate her on a cellular level. At night, I'm unable to sleep as I lie there, grinding my teeth and dreaming of the day when she is made to parade naked through the streets of every town in Britain while the crowds chant, 'Shame!' and throw lumps of excrement at her."

He was referring to an infamous scene in 'Game of Thrones,' when Cersei is put through this exact type of treatment, in dramatic fashion.

Of course, his words drew the ire of many on social media ... with a ton of folks calling his words misogynistic, racist and downright evil -- just the sheer amount of vitriol he expressed for Meghan in the wake of her and Harry's Netflix special was, frankly, beyond the pale.

There were reportedly scores of complaints filed over the column, and eventually ... The Sun got the message and apologized. They said, in part, "Columnists’ opinions are their own, but as a publisher, we realise that with free expression comes responsibility."

The Sun added, "We at The Sun regret the publication of this article and we are sincerely sorry." They deleted the piece from their website and their archives as well. Clarkson even apologized, saying he'd made a "clumsy" misstep in trying to reference 'GOT.'

Welp, the Sussexes weren't having ... calling The Sun's word empty and meaningless -- especially since they, apparently, have not reached out to the one person that matters.

A rep for Meghan and Harry says, "The fact that The Sun has not contacted The Duchess of Sussex to apologize shows their intent. This is nothing more than a PR stunt."

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As long as theaters are still closed, you might be without a big-screen moviegoing experience ... unless you got yourself one of these, of course.

We present to you ... the Minolta MN673 Mini LCD Projector -- which pretty much brings a theatrical encounter right to your own home without having to hit the cineplex itself.

Yes, it's small ... but this device is able to cast a screen of up to 120 inches on any surface, which is bigger than your average TV size. It's actually a movie theater feel that you can have no matter where you are. Additionally, the picture quality couldn't be better ... as it offers 1080p resolution and 800:1 contrast ratio -- proving this projector is the real deal!

The projector also features an HDMI input that's compatible with any device. It comes with a remote control, making it easier to navigate in case you're using it for a business presentation or something more official.

Plus, you can't go wrong with this affordable price tag. We got it up for grabs here at $99.99 ... whereas it regularly goes for upwards of $149. Talk about a steal, huh???

Sabine Schmitz -- affectionately known as the Queen of Nürburgring and former host of the hit BBC show "Top Gear" -- has died.

Sabine, the only woman ever to win Germany's famous 24-hour touring car and GT endurance racing event in 1996 and 1997, died Tuesday. She revealed last year she had been battling a rare form of cancer since 2017.

The Nürburgring's racing account tweeted, "The Nürburgring has lost its most famous female racing driver. Sabine Schmitz passed away far too early after a long illness. We will miss her and her cheerful nature. Rest in peace Sabine!"

Sabine was no stranger to the race track, having grown up in Nürburg and so close to the Nürburgring circuit in western Germany. She also raced for the Porsche motorsport team ... which also paid tribute to her saying it's "very sad to hear that Sabine Schmitz (1969-2021) has passed away."

The Porsche motorsport team added, "The 'Queen of Nordschleife' was a crowd favourite due to her open, humorous way. Our sympathy goes to her family and friends."

Sabine would go on to become a regular guest on "Top Gear" ... making her first appearance in 2004. Executive producer Clare Pizey, said, "Sabine was a beloved member of the Top Gear family and presenting team since 2016, having first appeared on the show in 2004, and everyone who had the pleasure of working with her on the team is in shock at this news."

The show's former host, Jeremy Clarkson, also was stunned by the news saying, "Terrible news about Sabine Schmitz. Such a sunny person and so full of beans."

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Winter's winding down, and Spring's right around the corner -- but it doesn't really matter what season it is ... as long as you can control the temps in your own crib.

Some days you'll want to turn the heat up or keep things cooler ... making the need for the TCL Portable Heater and Air Conditioner Combo kind of an inevitable buy.

This device is equipped with three cooling and fan speeds that you can adjust to your exact temperature needs. On top of that, it has a 24-hour timer that can be controlled for maximum efficiency and to help lower the costs of your electricity. You'll even be able to move it all-around your home as it has an easy-glide caster that delivers easy and smooth portability.

In addition to being an AC, heater, and fan, it includes a bonus dehumidifier. It has a washable and reusable filter ready to reduce bacteria, room odors, and other airborne particles. When it comes to set up, you won't have to worry about a thing as it comes with an installation kit you can easily follow for it to be up and running in minutes.

Its not everyday devices are as multi-functional as the TCL Portable Heater and Air Conditioner Combo and for a limited time, it's 31% off for $329.99 (regularly $479).

Ex-'Top Gear' host Richard Hammond and a bunch of his houseguests were gassed and robbed in the South of France ... according to the guy's wife, who was also there.

Sunday Express columnist Mindy Hammond told the outlet Sunday that she, Richard and a large group of friends staying with them had been burglarized recently while staying at a villa in Saint Tropez -- after she believes they were all knocked out with anesthetic gas.

She says the terrifying experience went down over a weekend, in which 15 guests -- herself, Richard and their teenage daughter included -- woke up one morning to find that everyone's wallet and purses had been ransacked of cash, not to mention their kid's watch.

Mindy goes on to explain that everyone's doors were open as were dresser drawers, as if someone had rifled through them in search of more loot. She says they discovered a neighboring property had also been robbed in the night ... which got cops involved.

Luckily, this story has a happy ending. Mindy says two of the alleged robbers were caught on CCTV on the grounds and were arrested within 48 hours of the heist. Apparently, gas-based burglaries have been happening on-and-off in the area for a few years now.

Rutledge tells TMZ he recently purchased a 1966 VW Double Cab -- and even though it doesn't have any seat belts yet, it did come with a cool surfboard ... and he plans to put a '50s Coca-Cola cooler in it as well.

The car enthusiast says his father-in-law found the car on eBay and asked Rutledge to go check it out for him. Wood fell in love with it and made a deal to trade his 1970 Datsun 521 for it, as well as a little extra cash.