‘venom disguised as humour’

From ‘Why does Jeremy Clarkson get me so angry?‘ by

‘Now, I’m not for a moment suggesting a writer bears responsibility for ways in which any wicked person might misunderstand his words. But I think it is also foolish to deny that people are propelled into action by a thousand spectral hands. If I discovered I had become the busty centrefold inside the door of the hate locker of a mass murderer, I would at the very least search my soul very deeply. Words matter. Words hurt. And the higher your profile, the bigger the responsibility not to pour venom into people’s ears. I think Clarkson consistently did that. He poured venom. Dangerously, he poured venom disguised as humour.’